I 


A  SKETCH 


GEOLOGY,  MINERALOGY,  &c. 


OF    THB 


CONNECTICUT 


PART  I. 


The  region  embraced  by  the  accompauying_inap,  and  to 
which  this  sketch  is  principally  confined,  is  about  150 
miles  long  and  30  broad;  extending  from  New-Haven  to 
'Bellows'  Falls.  A  leading  object  of  this  map  is  to  give  an 
/accurate  view  of  the  secondary  tract  extending  from  New- 
Haven  110  miles  northerly  to  Northfield.  But  it  is  protracted 
30  or  40  miles  beyond  this,  on  the  north,  so  as  to  embrace 
probably  all  the  argillite  along  this  river.  A  considerable 
extent  of  primitive  is  also  exhibited  on  the  borders  of  the 
secondary.  The  map  is  not  colored  according  to  the  Wer- 
nerian  distinctions  of  primitive,  transition  and  secondary ;  nor 
according  to  Macculloch's  division  of  rocks  into  unstratified 
and  stratified  :  but  an  attempt  has  been  made  to  give  every 
particular  rock  that  position  and  extent  on  the  map  which 
it  actually  occupies  on  this  portion  of  the  earth's  surface. 
Every  geologist  knows,  that  perfect  accuracy  in  these  res- 
pects, on  a  map  of  such  extent,  would  require  a  degree  of 
labour  and  research,  which,  none  but  those  whose  whole 
time  is  devoted  to  such  pursuits,  could  bestow.     Indeed,  so 

1 


2  Geology,  &fc.  of  the  Connecticut. 

large  a  part  of  every  country  is  covered  with  geest,  and 
so  imperceptible  is  (he  passage  of  some  rocks  into  others, 
leaving  tlie  observer  in  doubt  for  miles  which  rock  predom- 
ina'es,  that  after  all,  two  equally  good  geologists  would  not 
probably  fix  the  limits  of  different  rocks  precisely  alike. 
And  to  exhibit  all  the  minor  salient  and  reentering  angles 
Avhich  any  rock  makes  on  the  surface,  would  require  a  map 
on  a  scale  five  times  larger  than  that  used  in  the  present 
instance.  In  attempting,  therefore,  to  give  every  rock 
that  position  and  extent  on  the  map  which  it  actually  occu- 
pies on  the  surface,  I  do  not  suppose  I  have  done  any  thing 
more  than  to  approximate  to  the  truth.  It  is  hoped,  howev- 
er, that  the  approximation  is  sufiiciently  close  to  answer 
most  of  the  purposes  of  geology.  I  trust  at  least  that  this 
outline  will  furnish  assistance  to  succeeding  geologists. 

In  constructing  this  map  I  have  derived  very  great  assis- 
tance in  the  vicinity  of  New-Haven,  from  the  researches  of 
Professor  Silliman,  and  of  Dr.  Percival.  Indeed,  could 
either  of  these  gentlemen  have  been  induced  to  form  a  map 
of  that  region,  I  should  gladly  have  omitted  the  southern 
part.  In  the  northern  part  of  the  map,  I  have  been  assist- 
ed by  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen,  Lecturer  on  Chemistry  in  Middle- 
bury  College,  and  by  Rev.  J.  Andrews,  of  Putney.  Dr. 
E.  Emmons,  of  Chester,  has  also  communicated  facts  of 
importance. 

The  sides  of  the  map  are  not  precisely  meridians ;  but 
incline  3  or  4  degrees  to  the  right,  as  is  evident  from  the 
jleur  de  lis  attached  to  the  upper  right  hand  corner.  The 
longitude  and  latitude  are  marked  from  those  of  Deerfield, 
which  have  been  determined  by  numerous  observations. 

Having  made  these  preliminary  remarks,  I  now  proceed 
to  desoibe  the  several  rocks  occurring  in  this  district,  in  the 
order  in  which  they  are  put  down  in  the  explanation  of  the 
colours  on  the  upper  left  hand  corner  of  the  map. 

1.  Granite. 


Coloured  jiurple — or  a   mixture  of  carmine,  red,   and 
Prussian  blue. 

Almost  every  variety  of  this  rock  described   by   geolo- 
gists occurs  in  the  region  of  the  map,  except  the  transition 


Geology,  SfC.  of  the  Connecticut.  3 

granite  of  Norway  and  Scotland.  Its  texture  varies  from 
the  coarsest  to  the  finest  grain,  and  it  exists  liere  in  most  of 
the  forms  that  have  been  noticed. 

East-Haven  Granite, 

The  deposit  of  granite  marked  in  East-Haven  and  Bran- 
ford,  has  its  southwestern  extremity  at  the  Lighthouse^ 
which  stands  on  a  sea  beaten  rock  of  this  description.  The 
grain  is  internfiediate  between  fine  and  coarse,  and  the  fels- 
par is  usually  reddish.  In  passing  from  East-Haven  to 
Branford,  we  find  the  granite  immediately  succeeding  the 
old  red  sand  stone,  or  the  slate  rocks  of  the  coal  formation, 
or  the  greenstone ;  and  all  these  rocks  are  nearly  on  the 
same  level.  Their  actual  contact  with  the  granite,  howev- 
er, has  not  been  observed,  being  hid  by  geest. 

There  is  no  evidence  tliat  this  granite  constitutes  a  bed 
in  other  rocks  :  On  the  contrary,  it  would  seem,  that  it  was 
brought  to  view  along  the  coast  by  tiie  abrasion  of  the 
gneiss  and  mica  slate,  which  appear  a  few  tniles  to  the 
north,  and  which  there  lie  at  a  much  higher  level.  On 
passing  east  and  nortlieast  from  this  granite  deposit,  well 
marked  beds  of  this  rock  appear;  and  perhaps  all  the  gran- 
ite which  is  found  at  the  mouth  of  Connecticut  river  occurs 
in  this  form. 

I  do  not  know  exactly  how  far  the  East-Haven  granite 
may  be  traced  along  the  coast.  Certainly  the  gneiss  reach- 
es the  sound  before  we  come  to  Connecticut  liver. 

In  the  cavities  of  this  granite,  wheiicit  is  washed  by  the 
tide,  one  or  two  species  of  hepas  and  other  test  {cea,  have 
fixed  their  abodes,  finding  security  in  those  projecting  crags 
which  are  so  appalling  and  dangerous  to  the  mariner.  Some 
Ulvae  and  Fuci,  also,  are  found  along  the  shore. 

South  Hampton  Granite. 

Although  the  granite  thus  designated  extends  but  a  little 
distance  into  South  Hampton ;  yet  it  contains  the  South 
Hampton  lead  mine,  which  will,  no  doubt,  be  long  an  in- 
creasingly interesting  focus  to   which   mineralogists  will  be 


4  Geology,  ^-c.  of  the  Connecticut. 

drawn — and  (herefore,  the  specific  name  above  given,  may 
not  be  unappropriatc  for  tliis  granite. 

A  great  part  of  this  granite  exists  in  beds  in  mica  slate  j 
gneiss  being  a  rare  rock  in  the  vicinity.  Indeed,  it  may  be 
doubted  whether  the  whole  range  is  not  in  the  form  of  beds. 
I  think,  however,  it  will  bo  found  that  there  is  a  central  ridge 
which  is  fundamental,  at  least  two  or  three  miles  broad,  ex- 
tending from  South  Hampton  through  Williamsburg  to  the 
southwest  part  of  Conway  and  northeast  part  of  Goshen. 
Certainly,  along  this  line  little  else  appears  but  granite  ;  and 
in  some  places,  as  at  its  northern  extremity,  this  rock  forms 
hills  of  considerable  elevation,  and  extensive  ledgts.  Beds 
of  granite  may  indeed  be  found  in  the  vallies  beiween 
these  ledges;  but  an  observer  as  he  passes  o\'er  this  region 
and  proceeds  south  to  South  Hampton  lead  mine,  will  find 
it  difficult  to  persuade  himself  that  he  is  not  traversing  an 
original  fundamental*  deposit  of  this  rock.  Or  if  it  exist 
in  beds  alternating  with  mica  slate,  it  will  in  some  instances 
be  found  no  easy  matter  to  prove  it — the  mere  fact  that 
mica  slate  is  found  on  both  sides  of  it  not  being  sufficient 
evidence  :  the  same  being  the  case  with  an  original  deposit. 

I  would  here  suggest  whether  the  mica  slate  of  this  re- 
gion, that  contains  beds  of  granite,  may  not  be  a  newer  for- 
mation, reposing  immediately  upon  that  granite  nucleus 
which  probably  forms  the  basis  rock  in  New-England. 
And  wherever  this  mica  slate  and  upper  granite  is  worn 
away,  or  there  is  a  projection  in  the  nucleus,  the  basis  rock 
may  appear.  Such  a  supposition  will  account  for  all  the 
appearances  of  the  r^ion  we  are  now  considering,  which  is 
coloured  on  the  map  as  granite. 

As  we  go  east  or  west  from  what  I  have  called  the  cen- 
tral ridge  of  this  granite,  the  beds  of  this  rock  become  more 
and  more  distinct,  the   mica  slate,   however,  increasing  in 

*  "The  term  fundamental,  ha?,  it  should  seem,  been  gratuitously  predi- 
cated of  a  particular  description  of  granite  ;  for  by  the  terms  of  the  propo- 
sition, the  bottom  of  this  formation  has  never  been  seen,  and  consequently 
we  have  no  means  of  determining  whether  it  be  fundamental  or  not." — Ed. 
Rev.  Jan.  1820,  p.  89. 

But,  we  should  ask,  whether  it  be  not  proper  to  say  of  space,  that  it  is  iu- 
linite,  for  the  very  reason  that  we  cannot  limit  it?  And  with  equally  good 
reason,  it  would  seem,  we  may  say  of  granite  that  it  is  fundamental,  be- 
cause we  have  never  found  any  other  rock  below  a  particular  description 
of  it. 


Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut.  5 

quantity  and  the  granite  decreasing.  In  painting  what  is 
denominated  the  South  Hampton  granite,  I  have  compre- 
iiended  most  of  the  Chesterfield  and  Goshen  granite,*  which 
has  become  celebrated  on  account  of  the  interesting  minerals 
found  in  it — although  the  mica  slate  in  those  towns  occupies 
probably  as  much  of  the  surface  as  the  granite.  The  pur- 
ple colour,  or  that  which  represents  the  granite,  has  not  been 
extended  so  far  as  to  embrace  all  the  beds  of  this  rock  in 
Uiis  region;  but  only  so  far  as  the  granite  predominates. 
Where  the  mica  slate  is  most  abundant,  I  have  put  down 
this  rock  as  covering  the  whole  surface,  although  it  might 
contain  many  beds  of  granite. 

The  inclination  of  the  mica  slate  strata,  or  dip  below  the 
horizon,  and  consequently  of  the  granite  beds,  varies  from 
20°  to  90°:  and  thus  frequent  opportunities  are  afforded  for 
observing  the  former  rock  pass  under  and  over  the  latter. 
The  width  of  the  beds  varies  from  the  fraction  of  an  inch 
to  100  rods:  nay,  perhaps  to  a  mile  or  two.  So  that  in 
the  narrow  beds,  a  single  glance  of  the  eye  will  present  their 
roof  and  floor.  In  these  thin  beds  there  is  rarely  any  fis- 
sure; but  in  those  several  hundred  yards  in  width,  are  fre- 
quently observed  regular  and  irregular  divisions,  as  will  be 
more  particularly  noticed  hereafter. 

These  distinctly  characterized  granite  beds  are  not  con- 
fined to  the  region  of  the  South  Hampton  granite.  A  (e\v 
miles  north,  indeed,  they  disappear;  but  they  may  be 
traced  southerly  into  Litchfield  county,  where  they  exist 
abundantly,  and  are  sometimes  found  in  hornblende,  slate, 
and  gneiss.  A  good  example  of  the  former  may  be  seen  in 
Granville,  about  half  way  between  the  churches  in  the  east 
and  west  parishes  ;  where  the  layers  of  hornblende  slate  are 
nearly  perpendicular.  Instances  of  their  existing  in  gneiss 
may  be  seen  in  abundance  on  the  east  side  of  Connecticut 
river,  in  Pelham,  Monson,  Chatham,  Haddam,  &tc.  Indeed, 
we  think  the  geologist  who  traverses  New-England  primi- 
tive rocks  will  often  be  led  to  enquire,  whether  all  our  gran- 

*  "  We  have  visited  these  localities  more  than  once,  and  have  no  hesitation 
in  sayins:  that  more  distinct  and  well  marked  beds  do  not  exist  in  this  part 
of  the  United  States  or  Europe  ;  and  what  renders  the  fact  more  interes- 
ting^ is,  the  distinctly  stratitled  structure  of  some  of  them." — J^'.Amer.  Rev. 
Ko.  29— p.  233. 


6  Geology,  «yc.  of  the  Connecticut. 

ite  does  not  (^ccur  in  the  form  of  beds  or  veins.  AVc  arc 
not  yet,  however,  prepared  to  believe  any  one  could  con- 
clude that  it  does.  fc.ast-Haven  granite.  Black  Mountain, 
a  part  of  Leverett  range.  &;c.  stand  as  yet  in  the  way  of 
such  a  supposition.  Still  less  are  v/e  ready  to  adopt  the  re- 
cent opinion  of  a  distinguished  European  geologist,*  that 
granite  is  not  a  primitive  rock,  and  that  the  only  two  rocks 
that  are  so,  are  mica  slate  and  gneiss! 

Thus  have  we  in  New-England,  as  in  the  east  of  Ireland, 
granite  of  a  decided  character  alternating  with  mica  slate. 
But  this  ceases  to  excite  any  surprize,  since  Von  Buch  and 
and  Jameson  have  given  us  an  account  of  the  strata  of  Chris- 
tiana and  Haddington. t 

The  texture  of  the  South  Hampton  granite  is  generally 
rather  coarse.  There  is,  however,  in  this  respect,  a  great 
variety.  The  felspar  is  usually  of  a  fine  white  colour,  and 
the  quartz  and  mica  a  light  gray.  I  do  not  here,  however, 
speak  of  the  granitic  veins,  some  of  which  traverse  the 
granite  itself,  and  the  felspar  of  which  is  sometimes  flesh 
coloured.  The  beds  of  the  South  Hampton  granite  are 
not  rich  in  minerals,  except  the  lead  mine  in  that  town. 
The  veins  in  this  rock,  however,  contain  the  fine  tourmalines 
and  beryls  of  Chesterfield,  and  Goshen,  and  Haddam. 

Black  Mountain. 

Thislies  in  Dummerston,  Vermont,  and  consists  of  gran- 
ite. A  geologist  standing  in  Braltleborough  on  the  argillite 
is  surprized  on  looking  northwesterly,  and  seeing  only  four 
or  five  miles  distant,   an  abrupt  mountain  500   or  600   feet 

*  Dr.  Borre. 

t  Porphyry  in  immeuse  mountains  reposing^  upon  lime  stone  full  of  peti'i- 
factioDs  ;  a  sienite  over  this  porphyry,  consisting  almost  entirely  of  coarse 
granular  felspar,  and  in  the  same  manner,  a  granite  not  different  in  its 
composition  from  theo:ranite  of  the  oldest  mountains — granite  «6ore  transi- 
tion limestone  I  Granite  as  a  member  of  the  transition  Ibrmation  I" — Von 
Bucfis  Travels  in  Noricay,  p.  45. 

Order  of  the  transilion  rocks  around  Christiana,  beginning  at  the  lop  and 
reckoning  dowmcards. 
I.  Zircon  sienite.    2.  Granite.  3.  Porphyry.  4.  Sand  stone.  5.  Flinty  slate. 
6.  Compact  gray  Waoke.    7.  Compact  slate  and  black  orlhoceratite  lime- 
!tonc.  8.  Granite.  9.  Clay  slate  and  limestone,  probably.  10.  Gneiss. — Ibd. 


Geology,  <^-c.  of  the  Connecticut.  1 

high,  evincine  by  its  white  and  naked  head  that  it  is  gneiss 
or  granite.  On  visit. ng  it,  he  will  find  it  to  be  a  fino  grained 
granite.  In  many  parts,  howev -r,  lie  will  perceive  such  a 
tendency  to  stratification,  that  he  may  doubt  for  a  mo- 
ment whether  it  be  not  gneiss.  But  upon  examination  he  will 
refer  it  to  sjranite.  The  same  remark  will  apply  to  granite 
in  many  other  parts  of  New-England.  It  ?eems,  and  proba- 
bly i?,  in  many  instances,  intermediate  between  well  char- 
acterized granite  and  gneiss. 

Black  Mountain  is  not  many  miles  in  circuit,  and  on  the 
north  and  west,  is  succeeded  by  well  characterized  gneiss. 
This  gneiss  i-^  quarried  and  forms  U'tderpinning  and  step 
stones ;  specimens  of  which  may  be  seen  in  the  foundation 
of  the  Meeting  house  in  Braitleborougb,  East  Village. 

On  Black  Mountain  1  noticed  some  interesting  lichens. 
Th.e  most  monopolizit^g  of  these,  are  the  Gysophoras.  G. 
vel/eo,  papulose  and  mnklenhergii ;  (Achariu.-)  in  some  in- 
stances actually  cover  precipices  30  or  40  feet  high,  and 
crowd  one  another  notwi  hstanding,  so  as  to  force  up  their 
broad  margins,  giving  them  the  appearance  of  a  chapeau  de 
bras.  These  species  are  found  also  on  the  granite  in  Mon- 
tague, and  on  the  greenstone  in  Deerfield,  where  occurs  al- 
so g.  deusta.  On  Black  Mountain  I  likewise  noticed  in 
abundance  Enclocarpon  miniatum  Ach.  and  several  species 
of  Parmelin  Qud  Lee  idea.  Near  its  top  grows  Milium  in- 
volutum  (nov.  sp.  Torrey,  MSS.j 

I  cannot  but  detain  the  reader  a  moment  to  explain  the 
strange  nomenclature  by  which  those  were  governed  who 
originally  gave  to  this  granitic  peak  the  name  of  Black 
Mountain.  Every  body  in  passing  is  struck  with  its  snow 
jvhite  aspect,  and  cannot  help  enquiring  the  cause  of  it.  I 
was  told  that  in  early  days,<^  was  burnt  over  and  derived  its 
specific  appellation  from  this  circumstance.  Thus  an  acci- 
dental and  ephemeral  fact  has  fastened  a  name  upon  it 
which    its   constant    appearance    belies. 

A  similar  remark  might  be  made  in  regard  to  the  name 
of  another  mountain  in  the  same  vicinity.  A  perion  stand- 
ing in  Brattleborough  East  Village,  perceives  directly  east 
of  him,  on  the  east  bank  of  Connecticut  river,  a  venerable 
mountain  800  or  900  feet  high,  seeming  almost  to  threaten 
him   v/ith   its    overhanging    fragments.     On    enquiring  the 


8  Geology,  fyc,  of  ilie  Connecticut, 

name  of  it,  lie  will  be  told  it  is  West  River  Mountain.  And 
on  examination  lie  will  find  that  West  River  empties  into 
the  Connecticut  from  (he  west,  nearly  opposite  this  moun- 
tain. 

Granite  range  passing  from  Amherst  through  Levereit,  ^c. 

This  granite  is  generally  found  at  a  low  level.  Almost 
every  other  rock  in  the  southern  part,  excepting  the  alluvi- 
on, rises  higher  than  this.  Along  the  central  and  eastern 
parts  of  Amherst  it  is  mostly  covered  by  geest  and  alluvion. 
it  appears,  however,  two  miles  south  cast  of  the  Collegiate 
Institution,  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  Seminary  stands  on 
this  rock  ;*although  some  bowlders  of  pudding  stone  ap- 
pear there.  Two  or  three  miles  north  of  the  College,  it 
emerges  in  abundance,  and  becomes  broader  through  Leve- 
rett,  which  is  perhaps  one  of  the  best  places  for  examining 
it;  especially  when  we  consider  its  proximity  there  to  pud- 
diag  stone.  Mount  Toby,  which  is  800  or  900  feet  high, 
lies  on  the  western  border  of  the  granite  and  consists  prin- 
cipally of  a  peculiarly  conglomerate  rock  which  appears  to 
belong  to  the  coal  formation.  This  pudding  stone  rises 
400  or  500  feet  higher  than  the  granite,  and  in  the  interve- 
ning valley  the  two  rocks  approach  very  near  each  other ; 
although  I  have  never  been  able  to  find  the  actual  junction. 
The  granite,  however,  near  the  pudding  stone,  occurs  in 
beds  in  mica  slate,  and  is  separated  from  the  pudding  stone, 
by  this  mica  slate,  or  by  hornblende  slate,  which  appears  in 
the  valley  above  named,  or  by  an  imperfect  variety  of  sie- 
nite.  The  mica  slate  in  this  place,  and  indeed  along  the 
whole  western  border  of  this  range  of  granite,  near  the 
northwest  corner  of  the  town, lit  becomes  mere  qnartzose 
slate,  having  a  slight  glazing  of  mica,  or  mica  in  small  scat- 
tered scales.  This  quartz  is  divided  in  two  directions  by 
seams  oblique  to  the  face  of  the  layers,  so  as  to  separate  the 
rock  into  very  regular  rhombs  with  different  degrees  of  ob- 
liquity. In  hand  specimens,  indeed,  it  seems  to  be  limpid 
quartz  in  very  perfect  distinct  concretions. 

In  the  valley  between  these  rocks  appears  to  have  been 
for  ages  a  war  of  avalanches  between  the  pudding  stone 
and  granite  ;  in  which 


Geology,  <^'C.  of  the  Connecticut. 

-'•  hilh  amid  the  air  encountered  hills, 


Hurrd  to  and  fro  with  jaculaliou  dire," 

And  evidently  too  to  the  advantage  of  the  pudding  stone: 
ibr  this  is  several  hundred  feet  the  highest,  is  more  steep  and 
more  easily  broken  up  from  its  bed,  so  that  its  debris  has 
evidently  gained  upon  the  older  rocks,  and  subjected  some 
of  them  to  its  dominion. 

In  this  valley  the  lichens,  mosses  and  fungi,  have  planted 
themselves  thickly  upon  the  bowlders  and  decayiiig  logs 
where  they  are  secured  by  the  dense  foliage  of  the  trees 
fi-om  the  too  powerful  rays  of  the  sun  and  moistened  by 
the  vapour  of  a  small  brook  which  here  finds  a  passage. 
You  there  see  Sticta  pulmonacea  (Ach.)  and  Jungermannia 
platyphylia,  fantastically  fringing  the  rocks,  v/hile  the  ever 
verdant  Polypodium  vulgare  frequently  crowns  the  top. 
Parmelia  saxatilis,  caperata,  and  others,  several  Lecanorcc 
and  Lecideae,  Peltidea  canina,  Poiena  pertusa  Ramalina 
fraxinea  and  Cenomyce  cocdfera  and  rangiferinm  of  Achari- 
us,  Hedwigia  fdiformis,  Bartramia  crispa,  Polytrichum 
perigoniale,  several  species  of  Hypnum,  Dicianum,  Ortho- 
trichum,  and  many  other  genera  grow  there.  On  the  de- 
caying trees  along  this  valley,  you  not  unfrequently  may 
see  the  delicate  Boletus  versicolor  and  betulinus,  the  elegant 
i?.  cinnabarinus  and  htcidus,  and  the  useful  B.  varius,  velu- 
tinus  and  igniarius,  (Persoon.)  Here  too  may  be  found 
Agaricus  alneus  (Pers.)  Dacedalea  cinerea  and  Polyporus 
abietinvs  of  Fries  ;  various  Thelephorae,  Hydra,  Clavariac, 
Pezizce,  he.  And  the  margin  of  the  brook  has  in  many 
places  a  carpet  of  Marchantia  polymorpha  and  conica. 
Near  the  northern  extremity  of  this  valley  is  a  pond,  in  and 
around  which  are  many  rare  and  interesting  phenogamous 
plants — such  as  Drosera  rotundifolia  and  longifolia,  JVw- 
phar  advena  and  Kalmiana  JSymphea  odorata,  Utricularia 
striata  (n.  sp.  Le  Conte)  Myriophyllum  verticillatum,  one 
or  two  Charae,  Cnicus  lanceolatus,  attissimus  arvensis,  dis- 
color and  muticus;  Rhynchospora  glomerata  and  alba  J^u- 
jas  Canadensis  and  Scirpus  ' subterminalis  (n.  sp.  Torrey 
MSS.)  In  the  outlet  to  this  pond  grows  the  singular  Spoil- 
gia  fluviatilis  of  Linnaeus. 

But  to  return  to  the  granite.  Along  the  southern  and 
central  parts  of  Montague,  it  is  greatly  hid  by  the  gneiss  and 
mica  slate.     In  the  northern  part  of  the  town,  however, 

2 


10  Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut. 

near  the  mouth  of  Milh^r's  river,  it  appears  in  one  or  two 
detached  eminences  of  considerab'e  heigl)t ;  directly  west 
of  wliich,  only  a  few  rods,  is  another  hill  of  puddingstone 
similar  to  that  of  Toby.  The  granite  can  be  traced  nearly 
all  the  way  through  Northfield  at  a  low  level,  and  in 
the  north  of  this  town  it  seems  to  pass  under  the  geest  and 
higher  rocks,  and  to  appear  again  in  Winchester  and  Ches- 
terfield, of  greater  width,  and  here  it  is  beautifully  {)orph)^- 
ritic.  As  we  go  north,  the  rock  exists  in  distinct  beds  in  mi- 
ca slate  and  gneiss,  and  also  it  appears  at  the  tops  of  moun- 
tains sometimes  forming  conical  hills  almost  naked.  Wit- 
ness the  west  j)art  of  Surrey  and  Alstead. 

The  texture  of  this  granite  is  coarse,  in  some  instances 
very  coarse,  the  plates  of  mica  bei.'.g  several  inches  across. 
Its  usual  colour  is  white.  A  beautiful  variety,  however, 
occurs  in  Leverett,  in  which  the  felspar,  which  is  abundant, 
is  of  a  light  blue;  the  quartz  of  a  dark  blue,  approaching  to 
black  ;  and  the  mica  the  usual  light  gray.  This  a  rare  va- 
riety, and  a  fragment  of  a  crystal  of  this  blue  felspar  meas- 
ured in  its  longest  direction  8  inches. 

This  range  of  granite  contains  several  veins  of  metals, 
such  as  galena,  copper  pyrites,  blende  and  iron  ;  which  will 
be  more  particularly  described  hereafter.  .^^ 

Much  of  this  range  exists  in  the  form  of  beds  and'Mins: 
yet  so  far  as  1  have  examined  it,  it  will  not  be  easy  to  prove 
that  the  whole  of  it  can  be  referred  to  this  form.  I  am  yet 
of  opinion  that  along  the  central  parts  of  the  range  may  be 
seen  emerging  an  original  fundamental  deposit  of  granite. 

These  are  all  the  depositories  of  granite  of  considerable 
extent,  which  I  have  discovered  in  the  region  embraced  by 
the  map.  Granite  exists  in  many  other  places  along  this 
river  in  beds  and  veins  ;  but  not  of  sufficient  extent  to  claim 
to  be  represented  on  the  map.  It  is  possible,  however,  that 
what  I  call  beds  and  veins,  may  not  in  all  cases  be  such  : 
For  it  is  generally  allowed,  I  believe,  that  the  basis  rock  in 
all  New-England  is  granite,  and  this  nucleus,  if  I  may  so 
call  it,  is  doubtless  very  uneven,  having  many  prominences 
and  corresponding  hollows.  In  some  places,  perhaps,  these 
projections  have  never  been  covered  by  other  rocks,  such 
for  instance,  as  black  Mountain.  In  other  cases  there  is 
every  appearance  to  indicate  that  the  higher  rocks  have 
been  worn  away,  and  thus  the  granite  has  been   disclosed  : 


Geology,  Sfc.  of  the  Connecticnt;  1 1 

for  in  general,  the  granite  along  the  Connecticut  appears 
much  lowei"  than  the  neighbouring  rocks,  such  as  s^neiss  and 
mica  slate.  No  person  who  examines  the  East-Haven 
granite,  or  that  running  through  the  Leverett,  or  even  the 
South  Hampton  deposit,  will  doubt  that  some  powerful 
agent  has  swept  away  an  immense  mass  of  superincumbent 
rocks  of  some  description  or  other.  Whether  this  was  a 
piimeval  northeasterly  current  as  Mr.  Hayden  maintains,  I 
shall  not  undertake  to  decide.  Be  it,  however,  what  it  may 
have  been,  wherever  it  has  acted  powerfully  we  may  ex- 
pect to  find  the  granite  laid  bare.  If  these  remarks  are 
correct,  we  need  not  be  surprised  to  fisid  this  rock  any 
where,  even  if  we  cannot  make  it  form  any  thing  like  con- 
tinuous ranges,  and  perhaps  some  of  those  small  masses  of 
granite,  which  every  one  who  has  examined  New-Eng- 
land knows,  appear  so  frequently,  and  which  being  sur- 
rounded by  gneiss  or  mica  slate,  we  are  apt  to  refer  to  beds 
or  veins  may,  after  all,  be  the  top  of  a  projection  of  tiie 
nucleus  of  the  globe  which  the  abrading  agent  has  laid 
bare. 

Belloivs  Falls  Granite. 
r 
This  is  of  quite  limited  extent ;  but  the  intcresling  na- 
ture of  the  spot  where  it  occurs  induced  me  to  colour  it  and 
notice  it  thus  particularly.  Fall  mountain  on  the  east  bank 
of  the  Connecticut  at  Bellows  Falls,  consists  of  a  coarse, 
not  very  perfectly  stratified  mica  slate.  At  its  western  foot 
in  the  bank  of  the  river,  ihc  stratification  becomes  less  dis- 
tinct, and  is  at  length,  about  the  middle  of  the  stream,  en- 
tirely lost;  and  the  rock  becomes  an  imperfect  granite.  In 
other  words,  there  is  a  graduation  from  the  mica  slate  into 
the  granite.  In  the  western  bank,  in  the  village,  the  char- 
acters of  the  granite  are  more  decided;  though  even  here, 
I  should  have  no  hesitation  in  calling  it  a  sienitic  granite, 
did  it  contain  any  hornblende  ;  but  I  could  discover  none. 
The  mica  is  black  and  abundant,  thus  giving  the  rock  a  sie- 
nitic aspect;  and  it  is  also  traced  by  veins  of  felspar  and 
granite  like  the  sienitic  granite  of  Northampton  and  Belcher- 
town,  to  be  described  hereafter.  The  ingredients  of  tnis 
rock  are  arranged  when  viewed  on  a  small  scale  somewhat 
in   distinct  lavers :  but  when  regarded  as  a  whole.  I   never 


12  Geology,  fyc.  of  the  Connecticut. 

saw  a  rock  farther  from  stratification.  Sometimes  the  fels- 
par is  wholly  wanting,  and  the  rock  appears  to  be  mere 
unstratifed  mica  slate,  if  such  a  term  does  not  contain  a  con- 
tradiction. It  is  of  no  great  extent,  being  evidently  laid 
bare  by  the  waters  of  the  Connecticut,  which  here  urge  their 
way  m  foaming  fury  over  its  ragged  cliffs.  The  same  rock 
occurs  two  miles  east  of  the  falls ;  but,  as  far  as  I  examin- 
ed it,  it  seemed  to  occupy  no  great  space. 

Stratification  of  Granite. 

rfzi 

Probably  the  granite  of  .Connecticut  will  leave  the  ques- 
tion* en  this  subject  undecided.  For  some  of  it  is  evident- 
ly stratified  and  some  of  it  is  not.  That  which  exists  in 
not  very  extensive  beds  exhibits,  so  far  as  I  have  examined 
the  subject,  the  most  decided  marks  of  stratification.  It  is 
not  unfrequentto  see  the  bed  divided  into  layers  parallel  to 
its  roof  and  floor,  and  from  one  foot  to  two  feet  thick.  This 
is  readily  distinguished  from  gneiss  by  the  much  greater 
thickness  of  the  layers  and  the  want  of  a  stratified  arrange- 
ment of  the  ingredients.  In  other  instances,  more  rare, 
however,  we  observe  what  Saussune  would  call  vertical 
plates  (feiiilhts) — that  is,  thick  tables  of  granite  perpendi- 
cular to  the  horizon,  crossing  the  bed  sometimes  at  right  an- 
gles and  sometimes  obliquely.  These  plates  are  also  found 
making  a  dip  to  the  horizon — In  all  these  cases,  however, 
the  plates  being  parallel,  or  nearly  so,  the  rock  would  be 
properly  denominated  stratified.  Examples  of  these  vari- 
ous kinds  of  arrangement  may  be  seen  in  Conway,  Wil- 
liamsburg, Goshen,  and  Chesterfield.  Yet  the  greater  part 
of  our  granite  is  divided  by  numerous  fissures  into  these  ir- 
regular blocks  that  bid  defiance  to  precise  description. 

Granitic  T^eins. 

By  veins  I  understand  those  zones  of  any  particular 
rocks,  or  mineral,  which  traverse  another  rock,  either  rec- 
tangularly or  obliquely  to  the  direction  of  its  strata.  In 
crossing  the  strata  they  differ  from  beds. 

*  See  Greenough's  First  Principles  of  Geology. — Essay  1. 


Geology,  Sfc.  of  the  Connecticut.  13 

Granitic  veins  are  very  numerous  in  many  parts  of  the 
map,  especially  in  the  region  of  the  South  Hampton  granite. 
In  width  they  vary  from  a  mere  Hne  to  30,  and  perhaps 
even  40  feet.  But  I  have  not  observed  any  that  exceed 
this  breadth.  They  traverse  mica  slate,  hornblende  slate, 
limestone  of  a  peculiar  character,  sienite,  gneiss  and  gran- 
ite. Those  which  traverse  the  latter  rock  differ  from  it  only 
in  being  of  a  finer,  or  a  coarser  grain.  Yet  they  are  as  re- 
ally veins  as  those  zones  of  granite  traversing  other  rocks. 
Examples  of  these  are  frequent — as  near  the  South  Hamp- 
ton lead  mine.  , 

In  these  veins  all  the  ingredien.ts  of  granite  are  usually 
present,  but  in  variable  proportion.  I  have  seen  some  that 
were  nearly  or  quite  graphic  granite  :  But  usually  the  mica 
is  in  superabundance,  especially  in  the  narrower  ones,  and 
often  it  is  of  a  delicate  straw  or  light  green  colour,  as  in  Go- 
shen and  Conway.  The  felspar  is  sometimes  of  an  ele- 
gant flesh  colour,  especially  in  those  veins  occurring  in  the 
gneiss  northeast  of  New-Haven,  in  Chatham,  Haddam,  ^c. 
These  veins  frequently  divide  and  subdivide  like  the  top  of 
a  tree,  some  of  the  branches  being  smaller  and  some  larger. 
These  branches  rarely  go  ofF  from  the  main  stock  at  right 
angles,  but  generally  oblique.  At  one  place  you  will  see  a 
vein  retaining  its  width  for  several  feet,  or  even  rods,  with 
mathematical  exactness — at  another,  its  width  will  gradually 
increase  or  decrease;  and  I  have  seen,  in  some  instances,  a 
sudden  reduction  of  two  or  three  inches,  by  which  a  shoul- 
der was  produced.  The  course  of  many  of  these  veins  is 
serpentine,  resembling  that  of  a  river  on  a  map — yet  often 
they  scarcely  deviate  at  all  from  the  right  line.  Some- 
times they  make  large  curves  to  the  right  or  left.  They 
usually  descend  into  the  rock  obliquely  to  the  horizon. 
They  frequently  intersect,  but  I  have  never  noticed  any  dis- 
placement of  the  strata,  or  mass  of  the  rock,  except  in  the 
sienite.  Some  of  the  veins  traversing  sienite,  (between 
Belchertown  and  Ludlow  for  example,)  are  so  numerous 
and  their  intersections  so  many,  that  they  form  what  the 
Germans  call  a  stock  ivorke,  except  that  they  are  not  metal  ■ 
ic.  By  these  cross  veins  the  surface  of  the  rock  is  some- 
times divided  into  triangles,  rhombs,  or  rhomboids;  and 
sometimes  it  is  tesselated. 


14  Geology^  &fc.  of  the  Connecticut. 

The  veins  traversing  seinite  are  most  frequently  granite, 
-fAi-  felspar  being  of  a  flesh  colour.  They  are  more  numerous 
in  this  than  in  any  other  rock,  and  are  often  intersected  by 
one  another  and  by  thin  veins  of  epidote.  The  crossing  of 
these  veins  has  produced  many  very  interesting  and  singu- 
lar displacements  of  portions  of  the  rock.  Where  one 
vein  is  cut  off  by  the  intersection  of  one  that  is  newer,  it 
is  not  unfrequent  to  observe  a  lateral  removal  of  the  former 
with  the  whole  mass  of  the  rock  surrounding  it,  from  one 
to  six  inches.  The  vein  itself,  which  is  thus  removed,  is 
rarely  altered  or  injured. 

One  of  the  most  complete  and  curious  cases  of  this  kind 
is  exhibited  in  Fig.  6.  It  was  sketched  by  the  eye  without 
accurate  admeasurement.  A.  B.  C.  is  a  triangular  mass  of 
sienite;  the  sides  of- which  are  6,  4,  and  10  feet.  A.B.  is  a 
fissure  in  the  rock  :  B.  C.  a  vein  of  epidote  and  A  C.  the 
line  marking  the  lowest  limit  of  the  rock  above  the  soil. 
The  whole  rock  is  unbroken  and  as  firmly  united  as  any 
rock  of  this  character  ever  is.  There  appear  originally 
to  have  been  two  veins  of  granite  traversing  the  rock  in  its 
longest  direction,  the  smallest  an  inch  wide  at  one  end  and 
widening  towards  the  'ither,  and  the  longest  2  or  2  1-2  wide. 
These  have  been  cut  through  and  strangely  displaced  by  nn- 
merous  veins  of  epidote  crossing  obliquely. 

a,  «,  a,  and  b,  h,  b,  &ic.  represent  the  granite  veins  as 
displaced. 

d,  d,  d,  he.  represent  the  veins  of  epidote  which  are 
rarely  more  than  one  quarter  of  an  inch  thick,  and  a  few  of 
which  are  represented  on  the  plate. 

c  is  a  mass  of  gneiss  or  mica  slate  imbedded  in  the  sienite 
and  crossed  by  the  granite  vein  b. 

The  locality  of  this  rock  will  be  described  when  we  come 
to  speak  of  sienite. 

In  those  rocks  that  are  stratified  these  veins  make  every 
possible  angle  with  the  direction  of  the  strata.  And  if  I  do 
not  mistake,  the  nearer  they  approach  to  the  same  direction 
as  the  strata,  the  broader  they  become,  and  liave  a  nearer 
resemblance  to  beds.  Sometimes  they  approach  so  near 
the  same  course  as  the  layers  of  the  rock  they  traverse, 
that  it  requires  nice  examination  to  determine  whether  they 
deviate  at  all.  A  good  example  of  this  occurs  in  a  locality 
which  many  geologists  have  visited,  and  which  many  more 


Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut.  15 

will  probq^ly  visit.  I  refer  to  the  main  body  of  that  enor- 
mous vein  containing  the  green  tourmalin,  rubelite,  &ic. 
in  Chesterfield.  We  thinly  it  might  even  admit  of  a  ques- 
tion whether  this  be  a  bed  or  a  vein. 

The  veins  of  which  we  are  now  speaking  are  doubtless 
contemporaneous  ones — that  is,  such  as  were  consolid  Jted 
at  the  same  time  with  the  rocks  they  traverse.  There  is  no 
seam  or  layer  of  another  rock  at  their  sides,  but  they  are 
usually  so  firmly  united  to  the  rock  which  contains  them, 
that  they  are  separated  from  these  with  as  much  difficulty 
as  they  are  broken  in  any  otner  direction.  I  have,  how- 
ever, frequently  noticed  a  seam  traversing  the  middle  of  the 
vein — so  that  if  the  rock  they  traverse  be  broken  up,  one 
half  will  cleave  to  one  side  and  one  half  to  the  other. 

A  real  lusus  naturae  exhibiting  the  fijBB^cohesion  of  these 
vems  to  the  rocks  they  traverse,  now  lies  before  me.  A  slab 
of  granite  being  a  vein  2^-  inches  thick,  lO  inches  broad,  and 
20  inches  long,  curved  a  little  upwards  at  one  end,  forms 
the  base  of  the  specimen.  From  the  centre  of  this,  rises 
perpendicularly  a  bladed,  taper-pointed  column  of  a  pecu- 
liar limestone,  only  2  inches  thick,  10  inches  broad  at  the 
base,  and  26  inches  high,  appearing  as  if  mortised  into  the 
granite.  The  contrast  between  the  light  coloured  granite 
and  the  dark  gray  limestone,  is  very  striking.  The  secret 
of  its  having  been  brought  into  this  singular  form  appears 
to  be  this.  It  was  found  in  a  mountain  torrent  in  Conway, 
and  the  granite  doubtless  once  formed  a  vein  in  the  lime- 
stone. On  one  side  the  limestone  has  been  entirely  worn 
away  by  the  water — and  on  the  other  side,  it  is  worn  so  as 
to  leave  only  the  bladed  column  above  described,  which 
still  adheres  firmly  to  the  granite. 

T  have  said  that  these  granitic  veins  are  contemporane- 
ous ones  :  And  it  would  seem  that  the  judgment  of  no  man 
could  be  so  warped  by  theory,  as  to  believe,  after  examin- 
ing them,  that  they  were  once  fissures  made  in  the  rock? 
they  traverse,  after  these  were  consolidated,  and  that  these 
fissures  were  filled  by  a  solution  of  water  above,  or  by  a 
fiery  furnace  beneath.  There  is  just  as  much  reason  for 
believing  that  one  of  the  constituents  of  granite,  quartz  for 
instance,  was  introduced  into  the  rock  in  this  manner  after 
the  other  constituents  were  consolidated;  or  that  the  imbed- 


1 6  Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut. 

ded  crystals  of  porphyry  are  not  of  the  same  ag^with  the 
base. 

Granitic  veins  are  numerous  in  many  parts  of  the  map. 
Commence  at  Conway  and  go  south,  and  they  will  be 
found  in  abundance  nearly  to  the  ocean.  North  of  this 
town  I  have  never  noticed  any.  On  the  east  side  of  Con- 
necticut river,  also,  they  are  not  unfrequent,  particularly  in 
Connecticut.  Many  of  the  interesting  minerals  of  Had- 
dam  and  Chesterfield  occur  in  them. 

Veins  of  quartz  are  sometimes  seen  in  this  region  tra- 
versing granite,  as  in  Conway.  But  they  are  not  extensive, 
or  numerous.  I  have  noticed  also  that  sometimes  the  gran- 
ite contains,  imbedded  in  it,  masses  of  mica  slate  having  a 
curved  form  and  not  rounded  ;  as  on  the  top  of  the  high 
bill  between  Williamsburg  and  Chesterfield.  ^ 

Graphic  Granite. 

This  is  a  rock  not  uncommon  in  the  region  of  the  map. 
I  shall  notice  two  of  the  finest  localities.  The  first  is  in 
the  red  conglomerate,  or  coarse  sand  stone,  passing  through 
Deerfield.  The  imbedded  masses  in  this  rock  are  some- 
times the  most  beautiful  graphic  granite.  The  felspar,  al- 
though it  retains  its  lustre  most  perfectly,  appears  to  be 
thoroughly  penetrated  by  the  colouring  matter  of  the  con- 
glomerate so  as  to  become  of  a  deep  flesh  colour.  The  quartz 
is  gray  and  limpid,  or  a  little  smoky,  and  being  arranged 
s^omewhat  graphically,  many  of  the  specimen  are  truly  ele- 

The  other  locality  of  this  rock,  is  the  Goshen  granite, 
in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  town.  The  felspar  is  of  a 
snow  white,  and  the  quartz  limpid;  and  so  perfectly  graphic 
is  its  arrangement,  that  it  bears  a  close  resemblance  to  the 
Chinese  or  Hindostanee  characters  which  are  frequently 
observed  on  goods  from  the  East-Indies. 

Porphyritic  Granite. 

This  handsome  rock  occurs  in  great  abundance  in  loose 
rolled  pieces  along  the  range  of  granite  passing  through 
Leverett,  &c.  The  crystals  of  felspar  are  from  one  to  two 
inches  long,  and  a  half  or  three  quarters  broad,   and  some- 


Geology,  8^c.  of  the  Connecticut.  17 

times  the  fpw; presented  is  a  square.  Thus  an  idea  is  con- 
veyed to  the  observer,  at  first,  that  the  crystals  are  rectan- 
gular parallelepipeds  and  cubes;  although  it  is  well  known 
that  felspar  never  crystallizes  in  either  of  these  forms. 
The  felspar  of  these  imbedded  crystals,  when  broken,  ex- 
hibits the  pearly  lustre  of  the  folia  very  well  The  granite 
containing  these  cr)  stals  is  almost  uniformly  of  a  coarse  tex- 
ture. 

This  porphyritic  granite  is  carefully  to  be  distinguished 
from  glandulous  gneiss,  which  also  occurs  abundantly  along 
the  Connecticut.  Let  any  one  pass  from  Hinsdale,  New- 
Hampshire  to  Winchester  and  he  will  see  numerous  bowlders, 
often  ten  feet  diameter,  of  a  rock  having  the  granite  constit- 
uents and  exhibiting  no  appearance  of  a  schistose  structure. 
In  one  place  at  least  he  will  cross  the  rock  in  place  ;  and  he 
will  have  no  doubt  that  it  is  the  most  decided  granite.  And 
yet  it  is  elegantly  porphyritic.  This  rock  occurs  also  in 
Chester  where  Dr.  Enmiovs  has  traced  a  range  of  it  five  or 
six  miles.  Numerous  bowlders  of  this  rock  are  scattered 
over  the  town  of  Woodbridge  near  New-Haven  :  but  I  do 
not  know  from  whence  they  originated. 

Pseudomorphous  Granite. 

I  put  this  adjective  to  a  variety  of  granite  that  occurs  along 
the  Connecticut,  not  to  show  my  dexterity  at  coining  new 
terms,  put  to  make  myself  understood.  I  am  inclined,  how- 
ever, to  think  that  the  rock  to  which  I  refer  is  not  exactly  de- 
scribed in  the  geological  books  which  I  have  seen,  unless 
it  be  by  Cleaveland,  when  he  says,  "  som^  varieties  (of  gran- 
ite) are  divisible  into  imperfectly  columnar  or  tabular  con- 
cretions." (Mineralogy,  vol.  2,  p.  7^12.)  It  is  a  coarse 
grained  granite  with  light  coloured  quartz  and  feldspar,  ar- 
ranged in  the  usual  manner.  The  peculiarity  lies  in  the  mi- 
ca. This  is  usually  dark  coloured,  and  arranged  in  plates 
from  one  to  three  inches  across.  The  manner  in  which 
these  are  disposed,  may  be  thus  explained.  Suppose  the 
quartz  and  felspar  to  have  been  cemented  togpther  so  as 
to  form  a  perfect  graphic  granite.  Next  suppose  the  mass 
to  be  cut  in  various  directions  by  a  fine  saw  j  and  in  the 
spaces  thus  made,  imagine  thin  plates  of  mica,  not  more 
ihan  /,  of  an  inch  thick,  to  be  fitted.  Tt  is  obvious  thatthe 
3 


18  Geology,  &,'c.  of  the  Connecticut. 

mass  will  thus  be  cut  up  into  segments  of  pseudomorphoua 
crystals.  And  so  it  is  in  the  natural  specimens:  and  it 
seems  as  though  the  hand  of  nature  had  really  made  use  of 
a  saw  in  their  construction.  The  plates  of  mica  meet  at 
various  angles,  yet  never  cross  each  other;  and  the  smallest 
piece  of  quartz  or  felspar  is  sometimes  bisected,  so  that  a 
part  appears  on  one  side  of  the  plate  of  mica  and  a  part  on 
the  other.  This  rock  occurs  in  the  S.  Hampton  granite  ; 
and  may  frequently  be  found  in  other  parts  of  the  region 
extending  fifty  miles  south  from  Conway.  At  a  little  dis- 
tance the  dark  bronze  coloured  mica  appears  like  prisms  of 
some  imbedded  mineral :  and  the  travelling  geologist  is  of- 
ten tempted  from  his  carriage  in  the  almost  certain  expecta- 
tion of  obtaining  from  this  rock  shorl  or  titanium. 

2.  Gneiss. 

Colourcil  Orange. 

Although  this  is  the  most  abundant  rock  in  New-England, 
yet  the  map  includes  no  very  extensive  portion  of  it.  It 
stretches  over  a  broad  region  without  the  limits  of  the  map 
on  the  east  and  west,  especially  on  the  east.  On  the  west  it 
forms  a  part  of  the  Hoosack  or  Green  Mountains;  though  a 
much  less  part  than  has  been  usually  supposed.  On  the  east 
i^appears  with  some  interruptions  of  granite,  mica  slate,  &:c. 
within  twenty  or  thirty  miles  of  the  coast,  and  on  the  north 
it  spreads  over  a  considerable  part  of  New-Hampshire. 
The  White  hills  are  said  to  consist  chiefly  of  this  rock  : 
though  they  have  not,  1  believe,  been  thoroughly  explored. 

The  dip  of  the  layers  of  gneiss  in  this  re-;ion  varies  from 
20°  to  90° — and  it  dips,  like  most  other  stratified  rocks  along 
the  Connecticut,  to  the  east.  When  it  approaches  to  horn- 
blende slate  the  dip  is  generally  greater  than  when  pure. 
This  rock  often  contains  crystals  of  hornblende ;  in  every 
proportion,  indeed,  until  the  characters  of  gneiss  are  lost  in 
hornblende  slate.  Especially  is  this  the  case  on  the  cast 
side  of  Connecticut  river.  More,  however,  will  be  said  on 
this  subject  when  we  come  to  describe  hornblende  slate. 
Good  examples  of  this  gneiss  containing  detached  crystals  and 
even  veins  of  black  hornblende  may  be  seen  in  the  base- 
ment of  the  new  Collegiate  Institution  in  Amherst.     It  fur- 


Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut.  19 

wishes  an  admirable  stone  for  such  purposes  ;  and  many- 
quarries  are  opened  in  it.  Immense  tables  of  it  may  be 
procured,  and  should  the  mania  for  constructing  pyramids 
ever  seize  the  inhabitants  of  New-England,  this  gneiss  might 
produce  masses  of  stone  rivahng  in  magnitude  the  im- 
mense limestone  blocks  of  the  pyramids  of  Egypt. 

The  gneiss  of  the  Connecticut,  often  alternates  with  mica 
slate,  and  passes  into  it.  In  Granville,  may  be  seen  gneiss, 
hornblende  slate  and  mica  slate,  in  various  stages  of  ap- 
proach to  each  other,  and  making  various  alternations. 

This  mixture  of  gneiss  with  other  rocks,  and  the  consequent 
indistinctness  of  character,  render  it,  in  some  instances,  not 
very  easy  to  give  its  limits.  I  have  felt  this  dj^culty  espe- 
cially in  regard  to  the  northern  part  of  that  gneiss  range 
which  occupies  the  eastern  part  of  Litchfield  County  and 
appears  so  decided  in  its  characters  in  Bristol,  Plymouth, 
and  Canton.  In  the  west  part  of  Granville,  I  feel  confident 
gneiss  is  the  prevailing  rock — although  mica  slate  alternates 
with  it.  Yet  between  Chester  and  Wesifield  there  is  nothing 
but  mica  slate,  as  the  prevailing  rock,  which  extends  twelve 
or  fourteen  miles  west  of  Chester,  before  we  come  to  gneiss. 
And  north  of  this  we  find  very  little  gneiss  within  the  limits 
of  the  map  except  a  narrow  stratum  as  we  ascend  the  hill 
from  Cummington  to  Goshen.  I  do  not,  therefore,  feel  ex- 
actly satisfied  with  the  northern  termination  of  the  Litch- 
field gneiss  as  given  on  the  map  :  but  at  present  it  is  not  in 
my  power  to  re-examine  it. 

1  would  here,  however,  suggest  that  I  have  been  rather 
inclined  to  believe  that  some  of  the  stratified  rocks  along 
the  Connecticut  pass  gradually  into  other  rocks  laterally, 
that  is,  in  the  direction  of  the  strata: — mica  slate,  for  in- 
stance, into  gneiss,  or  hornblende  slate;  and  argillite  into  mi- 
ca slate.  To  establish  this  fact,  however,  requires  a  long 
series  of  very  close  and  accurate  observation.  I  merely 
suggest  it,  therefore,  and  do  not  assert  it. 

In  some  instances,  the  ingredients  of  our  gneiss  are  pret- 
ty equally  mixed:  in  others  they  are  arranged  in  somewhat 
distinct  layers,  which  are  generally  straight.  It  is  not  a 
rock  that  is  rich  in  minerals  with  us.  Veins  of  granite  tra- 
versing it,  however,  sometimes  contain  interesting  specimens. 
Witness  the  Haddam  minerals. 


Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Conneclicvt. 


Glandulous  Gneiss. 

This  is  very  abundant,  especially  in  the  gneiss  east  of 
Connecticut  river.  Indeed,  a  considerable  proportion  of 
that  range  is  occasionally  glandulous,  presenting  numerous 
oval  masses,  chiefly  of  felspar.  The  layers  of  this  variety 
of  gneiss  are  usually  very  distinct,  and  it  contains  a  large 
proportion  of  mica,  which  is  usually  of  a  blackish  colour; 
and  thus  it  is  easily  distinguished  from  the  porphyritic  gran- 
ite above  described. 

3.  Hornblende  Slate,  Cleaveland. 

Coloured  Vermillion,  Red,  and  clouded  with  India  Ink. 

This  is  an  anomalous  and  perplexing  rock.  It  is  not 
generally  well  characterised  in  this  region:  but  I  have  put 
it  down,  because  a  rock  approaching  nearer  the  characters 
of  this  than  of  any  other,  occurs  in  considerable  abundance 
along  the  Connecticut.  I  have  no  confidence  however  that 
I  have  given  in  all  cases  its  exact  situation  or  extent.  Yet 
I  believe  that  wherever  this  stratum  is  coloured  on  the  map, 
the  rocks  may  be  found  in  the  vicinity.  Thus  in  the  range 
extending  from  Belchertown  to  Guilford,  Ct.  a  person  willgen- 
erally  find  this  rock  more  or  less  abundant  in  crossing  from  the 
secondary  rocks  to  the  gneiss :  but  sometimes  he  may  thus 
cross  and  miss  of  it,  unless  he  make  an  excursion  to  the  right 
or  left;  and  sometimes  he  must  cross  a  portion  of  the  gneiss 
before  he  reaches  it.  The  continuity  of  the  strata  of  this 
rock  seems  to  be  much  less  perfect  than  in  the  gneiss  or 
mica  slate,  and  the  direction  of  the  strata  if  often  oblique  to 
that  of  other  rocks  : — a  remarkable  instance  of  which  occurs 
in  the  south  east  corner  of  Halifax,  Vt.  The  dip  of  the 
strata  varies  from  45°  to  90',  and  the  schistose  structure  in 
the  purest  specimens  is  very  perfect,  the  layers  varying  in 
thickness  from  half  an  inch  to  three  inches. 

But  there  is  another  difficulty  in  ascertaining  the  limits  of 
this  rock.  It  is  no  easy  matter  to  draw  the  line  between  it 
and  gneiss,  all,  or  at  least,  two  of  the  ingredients  of  the  lat- 
ter rocks  bein^  sometimes  present,  while  more  than  half  of 
the  rock  is  hornblende.    Indeed,  I  have  sometimes  been  dis- 


Geology^  SfC.  of  the  Connecticut.  21 

posed  to  regard  this  rock  as  gneiss  containing  an  accidental 
proportion  of  hornblende ;  and  this  would  have  been  a  satis- 
factory description  of  a  considerable  part  of  the  rock  which 
I  have  called  hornblende  slate.  But  another  part  appears 
to  be  decidedly  that  species  of  V\  erner's  primitive  trap  de- 
scribed under  the  name  of  hornblende  slate  in  Rees  Cyclo- 
pedia, Article  Trap — that  is,  it  consists  of  hornblende,  gen- 
erally fibrous  and  crystalline,  having  a  very  distinctly  slaty 
structure.  For  localities  of  this  well  characterized  horn- 
blende slate  I  would  mention  the  eastern  part  of  Halifax. 
Vermont,  also  New  Fane  and  Belchertown,  two  miles  north 
of  the  meeting  house  on  the  west  side  of  the  road,  and  in 
the  western  part  of  Tolland  and  Monson. 

I  think  however  that  the  largest  part  of  this  rock  will  be 
found  to  consist  of  hornblende,  quartz  and  mica — the  latter 
being  usually  black  and  very  apt  to  be  confounded  with  the 
hornblende,  so  that  perhaps  it  deserves  the  name  of  a  granitic 
aggregate.  In  some  instances,  also,  this  rock  contains  chlo- 
rite, and  verges  towards  greenstone  slate.  It  is  often 
strangely  intermixed,  and  alternates  with  gneiss  and  mica 
slate. 

Another  portion  of  this  rock  has  a  porphyritic  aspect. 
I  use  the  term  porphyritic  in  this  place,  not  in  the  usual 
sense,  as  denoting  a  compact  ground  with  imbedded  crys- 
tals, but  as  a  "granite  ground,  in  which  some  crystals  are 
much  larger  than  the  rest."  {BukeweWs  Geology,  p.  28.) 
The  slaty  structure  of  the  rock,  though  less  distinct,  is  not 
lost :  but  the  imbedded  fragments,  or  imperfect  crystals  of 
quartz  or  felspar,  most  frequently  the  former,  give  it  a 
porphyritic  appearance.  These  imbedded  fragments  arc 
frequently  granular,  while  the  base  is  distinctly  crystalli- 
zed. A  good  ejEample  of  this  variety  of  rocks  occurs  in  the 
west  part  of  Chatham  and  in  Shelburne.  Sometimes  this 
rock  becomes  the  real  sienitic  porphyry  of  authors — its 
slaty  structure  being  lost.  This  occurs  in  Plainfield,  in 
Hawley,  a  few  rods  west  of  the  meeting-house,  and  at  the 
falls  in  Deerfield  river  in  Shelburne. 

These  porphyritic  rocks,  however,  must  be  quite  different 
from  any  thing  occurring  in  Europe  by  this  name,  if  a  re- 
mark of  Brongniart  be  correct,  that  "  we  are  not  at  present 
able  to  find  a  sienite  or  porphyry  which  is  evidently  primi- 
tive."    For  we  have  as  much  evidence  of  the  primitive  char- 


22  Geology^  fyc.  of  the  Connecticut. 

acter  of  the  rocks  above  described,  as  of  the  mica  slate  and 
gneiss  with  which  they  are  associated  and  in  which  they 
sometimes  form  beds. 

Hornblende  slate  occurs  on  the  west  side  of  Connecticut 
river,  south  of  Shelburne,  in  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut, 
also  at  Plainfield  and  Hawley.  But  it  is  not  abundant  or 
well  characterized  generally,  and  is  much  mixed  with,  and 
passes  into  other  rocks;  and  therefore  I  have  coloured  it 
only  in  the  range  from  Belchertown  to  Guilford  and  from 
Shelburne  northward.  Good  examples  of  the  rock  contain- 
ing quartz  and  some  mica  may  be  seen  in  tb^  flagging  stone 
of  the  side  walks  along  the  eastern  side  of  the  PubUc  Square 
in  New-Haven,  and  in  other  parts  of  that  city. 

4.  Mica  Slate. 

Coloured  Green. 

This  is  an  extensive  stratum  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
map.  On  the  west  side  of  the  river  it  forms  the  prevailing 
rock;  and  its  width  continues  to  increase  northerly,  so  that 
it  occupies  the  principal  part  of  Vermont.  Prof.  Silliman  in 
his  "  Tour  between  Hartford  and  Quebec,"  says  that  he 
crossed  this  st&te  obliquely  from  Burlington  to  Hanover,  a 
distance  of  84  miles,  and  found  mica  slate  by  far  the  most 
abundant  xock  on  the  route.  {Tour,  &.c.  p.  386.)  In  Con- 
necticut, however,  along  the  river,  this  rock  constitutes  no  ve- 
ry broad  ranges.  Those  which  are  coloured  immediately  in 
contact  with  the  secondary  on  both  sides  of  the  Connecticut 
are  in  most  places  quite  narrow,  often  not  more  than  half  a 
mile,  or  even  but  a  few  rods  wide,  and  sometimes  they  whol- 
ly disappear  and  we  pass  from  the  sandstone  immediately  to 
the  hornblende  slate  or  gneiss. 

The  dip  of  our  mica  slate  is  variable  from  20°  to  90"^.  In 
Vermont  it  is  usually  less  than  in  Massachusetts;  especially 
where  we  first  strike  it  in  passing  from  the  river.  Farther 
south,  as  in  Hn^ley,  Plainfield,  Chesterfield,  &;c.  it  approach- 
es 90°.  East  of  Chesterfield  the  layers  of  this  rock  lean  to 
the  west.  Beyond  Chesterfield,  on  the  west,  they  lean  the 
contrary  way — that  is,  to  the  east.  The  same  is  the  case 
between  Chester  and  We^tfield.  This  fact  looks  like  an 
indication  of  a  fundamental  ridge  of  granite,  extending  in 


Geology  S^-c.  of  the  Connecticut.  23 

that  direction,  as  we  have  already  suggested;  ahhough  it 
may  not  yet  have  made  its  appearance  above  the  later  rocks 
the  whole  distance. 

This  rock  is  somewhat  Protean  in  its  appearance;  yet 
not  very  difficult  in  most  cases  to  be  distinguished  by  care- 
ful observation.  The  following  varieties  have  been  noticed 
in  this  region.  1.  A  variety  already  referred  to,  as  occur- 
ring in  Leverett,  near  the  pudding-stone;  which  is  scarcely 
any  thing  more  than  imperfectly  limpid  quartz,  divided  into 
distinct  rhombic  concretions,  about  an  inch  thick,  and  three 
or  four  across  the  outside,  slightly  spangled  or  glazed  with 
mica.  2.  Very  much  like  the  last,  except  that  it  does  not 
divide  into  complete  rhombs,  but  is  only  separated  by  seams 
oblique  to  the  direction  of  the  strata,  and  nearly  perpendic- 
ular to  the  horizon* — Locality,  West-River  mountain  in 
Chesterfield  New-Hampshire.  3.  Divided  as  the  last  by 
two  sets  of  parallel  planes,  forming  angles  with  each  other  a 
little  oblique:  But  the  mica  is  intimately  disseminated  in 
fine  scales  through  every  part  of  the  rock,  and  the  quartz 
becomes  a  mere  siliceous  sand,  blended  closely  with  the 
mica."  Surface  rarely  waving — Locality,  Whately,  Con- 
way, he.  4.  Not  regularly  divided  in  any  direction,  ex- 
cept that  of  the  strata,  and  much  less  fissile  than  the  last. 
Mica  scattered  in  fine  scales  through  the  mass,  and  the  silex 
more  abundant  than  the  last — Rock  breaking  into  huge 
blocks,  from  one  to  three  feet  thick,  and  often  forming,  like 
greenstone,  abundance  of  debris.  Locality,  West-River 
mountain  and  Deerfield.  These  four  varieties  occur  on  the 
borders  of  the  secondary  rocks.  5.  Tortuous,  wavy  and 
extremely  irregular,  embracing  numerous  beds  and  amor- 
phous masses  of  quartz — Mica,  very  imperfectly  character- 
ised, forming  a  kind  of  glazing  with  the  aspsct  of  plumbago. 
Locality,  Conway,  Shelburne,  Colrain,  he.  6.  Quartz  and 
mica  in  somewhat  distinct  layers — quartz  predominating, 
and  mica  not  very  well  characterised — abounding  in  garnets 
— Locality,  Plainfield,  Hawley,  Conway,  &:c.  7^  Passing  in- 
to talcose  slate — mica  abundant,  having  somewhat  of  a  fi- 
brous aspect  and  connected  with  talc.  Northfield  and  Haw- 
ley.    8.  Passing  into  argillite.     Locality,  Leyden,  Ches- 

*"When  one  set  of  parallel  planes  crosses  another,  are  both  sets  to  be  cal- 
led strata,  or  neither,  or  only  one.  of  them  ?" — Grefnmiglis  Geology,  Essnij  1 , 


24  Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut. 

terfield,  (N.  H.)  Putney,  &ic.  9.  Not  very  fissile — break- 
ing into  thick  blocks.  Mica,  abundant  but  poorly  charac- 
terised— having  somewhat  the  aspect  of  argillite — surface 
slightly  irregular,  appears  as  if  grooved — Abundant  in  Cura- 
mington,  Chesterfield,  (Mass.)  Vernon,  Bolton,  &,c.  10. 
Quartz  granular,  abundant  and  white — resembling  gneiss 
or  granite — scarcely  stratified  at  all — Locality,  Buckland, 
Granville,  &;c.  11-  Mica  in  distinct  and  abundant  plates — 
layers  very  little  tortuous  or  uneven.  This  usually  lies  next 
to  granite.  12.  Passing  into  gneiss — often  rendered  por- 
phyritic  by  crystals  of  feldspar.  Locality,  Litchfield  county. 

The  quartz  that  occurs  in  this  mica  slate,  especially  in 
the  wavy  and  tortuous  varieties,  is  commonly  the  white 
limpid:  frequently  it  is  the  fetid,  and  sometimes  a  rich  vari- 
ety of  a  delicate  red  color.  The  coloring  matter,  however, 
is  apparently  iron,  and  therefore  it  is  not  the  rose-red  quartz. 
This  variety  of  quartz  occurs  on  the  west  side  of  the  Con- 
necticut. 

It  has  already  been  remarked,  under  granite,  that  nu- 
merous beds  of  this  rock  are  contained  in  mica  slate.  In- 
deed, our  mica  slate  more  frequently  rests  immediately  up- 
on granite,  without  the  intervention  of  any  other  rock,  than 
does  gneiss.  It  also  alternates  with  gneiss,  hornblende  ^ 
slate,  argillite  and  chlorite  slate.  Small  paQa^B  of  it,  m-7oh^ 
deed,  occur  in  very  many  places  throughout  the  whole  ex- 
tent of  the  primitive  along  the  Connecticut. 

It  is  a  common  remark  in  geological  books,  that  hills  | 

composed  of  mica  slate  are  usually  less  steep  and  more 
rounded  than  those  of  granite.  But  the  reverse  is  the  fact 
in  most  cases  along  this  river.  The  granite  hills  are  gener- 
ally low  and  rounded,  while  some  of  the  most  Tarpeian 
precipices  to  be  found  in  this  region  are  composed  of  mica 
slate.  Take  for  examples  West  River  Mountain,  and  the 
high  hills  of  Heath,  Hawley,  Chesterfield,  &;c.  \ 

Mica  slate  is  not  wanting  in  a  variety  of  minerals  in  this  ^ 

section  of  the  country— -such,  for  instance,  as  staurotide  and 
garnets  in  immense  quantities  in  Goshen,  Chestorfield, 
Mass.  and  from  Bolton,  Conn,  one  huudred  miles  north,  to 
Chesterfield,  New-Hampshire  Also  the  fine  Chesterfield 
sappare.  Also  the  red  oxid  of  titanium,  found  almost  -jv- 
ery  where  between  Conway  and  Brattleborough,  a  distance 
of  thirty  miles — and  the  Leyden  tremolhe — the  Putnev 


Geology i  4"C.  of  the  Connecliciil.  25 

^reen   fluor   spai-,    and   the   Wardsborough    zojsite.     The 
Chatham  Cobalt  mine  occurs  in  mica  slate. 

The  cryptogamoiis  plants  that  usually  o\  erspread  a  great 
part  of  the   mica  slate  of  this  region,  though  perplexing  to 
tJie   mere    geologist,   are   yet   interestij^  to    the    botanist. 
Among  those  which  adhere  to   these  rocks,  or   to  the  litdc 
soil  that  collects  in  their  cavities,  may  be  named,  Barira- 
mia  gracilis,  Smith,   B.  longistta,  J\Jx?  B.  crispa,  Swnrtz, 
Ilechoigia  Jiliformis,  P.  Beuv.v.  in  great  abundance;  Arrlie- 
nopterum    heterosttcum,    Hedw.  Buxbaumn    aphijUa,   Lin. 
Fissidem  adianthoides,  Bryum   roseum,  Diphyscium  folio- 
sum,  Spreng.  Pcli^trichian  perigoniale,  JMx.  Jungermannia 
comptanata,  L.   J.  platyphylla  L.   Cenomyce  phyllnphora, 
and  pyxidaia,  Ach.  Stereocanlon  pasch  cle,  Parmd  a  herha- 
cea,saxatilisandc:!peraia,Porinopnpillosa,andper!i(sa,Ptlti' 
dea   aphlhosa  and  scutata,    and  Sticta  pulmonacea,  all  of 
Achari(!S.     In  the    region  of  the   mica  slate,  especially  in 
Brattleborough  and   Conway,    we   frequently    find  Bryvm 
cuspidatu7n,Brid.  Hypnum  minutuium,J\Ix.  H.  flexile, Brid. 
11.  serpens, L.H.  cupressiforme,H'^hi'.  Jungermannia  nodifo- 
lia,Torrey,Maschalocarpus  trichonitrion,  Hed.  Pterigoniiim 
subcapillatiim,Brid.  \eckcra  minor,  Brid.  TV'.  pennata,Hed. 
J\\  viticulosa,Hed.  Cenomyce  coccfra,  rangiferina,  hotrys, 
^c. — Parmelia^^  colpodes,     nlnthrix,     cyc/ocelis,    parietina, 
plumbea,  S^'C.^^Lecanora  tubercidata,  subfnsca,  brunnea.  al- 
bella,  &fc. — Lecidea  parascena,  cameoln,  demissa,  ^^c. — Us- 
nea  florida  and  plicata,  Cornicularia  fibrillosa,  Collema  iu- 
naeformis,  and  Alecioria  jubala,  all  of  Ach.  Kephroma  resu-- 
pinata,  Sprcvg.G Ionium  stellnre,A]uhl.  Pohjporus  ubietinus 
and  sqvamosus.  Fries.  Hydnum  giiercimim  and  cyathiforrae, 
Fries. H.  imbricatum,  occanum,  coralloides  and gelatinosum, 
Pers.  Thelephora  quercina  and  terrestris,  Cyathus  alia  and 
striata,  Stemoniiis  ftsciculata,  Boletus  citrinns,  badius,  bru- 
malis,  nigro-marginaius,  cinncbnnnus,  velutinus,  betulinns. 
^c.  all  of  Persoon,  and  many  scores  besides   o^  Airaricus, 
Amanita,  Sphaeria,  Peziza,  Daedalea,  Helvella,  Lycoper- 
don,  Bovista,   Scleroderma,    Trcmella,  ^'c.   too  numerous 
to  mention  in  thi^  place. 

Scattered  among  the  mica  slate  rocks  we  frequently  find 

the  Hdix  alloL\b,'is,  Say,  or  common   snail;  and   also,  in 

some  situations,  II.  idternata,  Sny.     In  a  pon-;-.  in  Ashfield 

is  found  Planorbis  bicarincitus,  Say,^nd  Cyclassimih's,Say. 

4 


\ 


26  Geology,  (^c.  of  the  Connecticut, 

In  springs  occurs  a  species  of  Lymnaca,  Scry,  and  in  our  lar- 
ger streams,  Planorbis  trivolvis  and  Vnio  purpureus,  Say, 
or  common  river  clam. 

V 

5.  Talcos»  Slate.    Rees  Cyc.     Bukewell, 

Talcose  Schist.     Alaccullock. 

Talcose  Slate.     Eaton. 

Colored  Gamboge  yellow,  and  dotted  icith  India  Ink. 

Bakevvell  defines  this  rock  to  be  "slate  containing  talc," 
(Geology,  p.  491,)  and  Eaton  calls  it  "that  kind  of  mica  slate 
which  is  distinguished  from  mica  slate  by  a  kind  of  talc 
glazing.''     In  this  term  I  do  not  include  soapstone. 

There  is  but  one  stratum  of  this  rock  in  the  region  of  the 
map,  of  sufficient  extent  to  render  it  necessary  to  delineate  it. 
I  have  sometimes  noticed  on  the  east  side  of  Connecticut 
river  a  kind  of  talco-micaceous  slate:  but  not  in  abundance, 
and  rarely  in  place.  I  have  crossed  the  stratum  which  is 
colored  on  the  map  in  Whitingham,  Vt.  where  it  is  not  less 
than  a  mile  and  a  half  in  width.  I  have  traversed  it  also  ia 
flawley  and  Plainfield,  and  Professor  Eaton  says  it  extends 
into  Worthington — so  that  on  his  authority  I  have  extended 
it  thither.  The  rock  is  of  a  much  lighter  color  than  mica 
slate.  At  a  distance,  indeed,  it  has  the  aspect  of  gneiss. 
The  talc  is  nearly  while,  though  sometimes  of  a  light  green, 
and  it  contains  a  large  proportion  of  silex.  The  strata  are 
but  little  undulating  and  nearly  perpendicular,  leaning  a  few 
degrees  to  the  west.  On  its  east  side,  where  it  passes  into 
mica  slate,  an  intermediate  talco-micaceous  rock  is  found, 
containing  numerous  distinct  crystals  of  black  hornblende, 
thrown  in  promiscuously,  and  exhibiting  the  most  elegant 
specimens.  One  variety  has  a  ground  that  is  green;  anoth- 
er has  a  white  ground,  and  the  contrast  between  these  and 
the  imbedded  crystals  is  striking.  Large  slabs  of  this  rock 
may  easily  be  obtained;  and  if  it  will  admit  of  a  polish,  it 
would  certainly  be  a  beautiful  addition  to  those  marbles  and 
porphyries  that  are  wrought  for  ornamental  purposes.  The 
varieties  of  this  rock  aiay  be  .  seen  in  any  direction  a  few 
rnds  from  iho  meolina;  house  in   Hawlcy:  as  likewise  many 


Geology,  i^-c.  of  the  Connecticut.  27 

other  singular  and  curious  aggregates  which  T  have  never 
seen  at  any  other  place.  Among  these  is  sienitic  porphy- 
ry— and  sometimes  the  talco-micaceous  rock  has  its  surface 
covered  with  dehcate  fascicular  groups  of  hornblende. 

The  micaceous  iron  ore  occurs  in  the  talcose  slate,  and  I 
have  never  seen  any  of  this  sort  of  ore  in  any  cabinet  that 
will  compare  at  all  for  beauty  with  that  in  Hawley. 

6.  Chlorite  Slate.     Cleaveland. 

Uncolored,  but  doited  with  black. 

In  the  region  under  description,!  know  of  but  two  deposits 
of  this  rock  of  sufficient  extent  to  be  marked  on  the  map;  viz. 
at  West-Haven  and  IMilford*  and  in  Whitingham,  Vt.  At 
the  former  place  it  is  but  imperfectly  characterised,  espe- 
cially at  its  Northern  extremity.  As  we  approach  the 
coast,  in  West-Haven,  its  characters  become  more  decided, 
and  here  we  find  numerous  small  crystals  of  octahedral 
magnetic  iron  ore  disseminated  through  it.  Where  the 
cliffs  of  this  slate  have  long  been  buffeted  by  the  waves  of 
the  ocean,  these  crystals  have  been  worn  out,  and  are  de- 
posited in  large  quantities,  in  the  form  of  iron  sand,  on  the 
beach.  On  the  east  side  of  \&s*t-Haven  harbour,  at  the 
Light  House,  also,  this  sand  appears  in  equal  abundance — 
and  tons  of  it  may  easily  be  collected.  On  that  side  of  the 
harbour  there  is  no  chlorite  slate;  and  whether  the  iron 
sand  found  there  is  the  remnant  of  former  chloritic  strata 
now  wholly  disintegrated,  or  whether  it  is  washed  up  from 
the  bottom  of  the  Sound,  where  these  rocks  doubtless  exist, 
remains  problematical.  The  latter  supposition,  however, 
seems  most  probable. 

The  chlorite  slate  of  West-Haven  is  extremely  tortuous 
and  undulating,  and  is  traversed  by  numerous  irregular  seams 
of  white  quartz-  It  alternates  with  greenstone  slate  and 
passes  into  it;  and  also  with  mica  slate.  These  three  rocks 
are  often  so  blended  together  that  the  distinctive  characters 
of  each  are  lost.  And  as  we  approach  the  strata  of  the 
Verd  Antique,  they  seem  to  embrace  also  some  of  the  prop- 

♦West-IIaven  and  a  part  of  Milford  have  recently  been  incorporated  in- 
to a  separate  town  by  the  name  of  Ariaasi.  ^>-a>-z$,£_ 


^23  Geology,  (^'c.  of  the  Co7ineclicul. 

eriies  of  this,  and  often  to  pass  into  it.  Hence  it  is  no  easy 
matter,  in  many  instances,  to  give  a  name  to  the  Milford 
slate  rocks,  and  the  ahernalions  above  named,  and  also 
with  unstratified  primitive  greenstone,  are  numerous — so 
that  it  was  not  possible  in  coloring  the  map  to  give  to  each 
of  these  rocks  the  precise  situation  which  they  occupy  on 
the  surface. 

The  direction  of  the  chlorite  slate  strata,  of  which  we 
have  been  speaking,  is  from  north-east  to  south-west.  They 
dip  to  the  south-east,  and  their  angle  of  depression  below 
the  horizon  rarely  exceeds  30°.  Sometimes,  however,  it  is 
90'.  I  think  it  will  be  found  that  the  rocks  of  Woodbridge 
and  Mi  ford  pass  laterally  into  one  another.  Thus,  the 
chlorite  slate  at  i;s  northern  extremity  is  usually  somewhat 
talcose  in  its  appearance,  approaching  to  argillite,  and  as 
you  pass  south,  its  characters  continue  to  he  more  and  more 
developed.* 

The  chlorite  slate  colored  in  Whitingham,  is  the  best 
;...  characterised  I  have  ever  seen  in  New-England.  It  seems 
^  to  be  nearly  pure  chlorite,  yet  distinctly  stratified,  the  lay- 
ers being  nearly  perpendicular,  leaning,  however,  a  few  de- 
grees to  the  west.  I  know  but  little  concerning  the  extent 
of  this  stratum.  Where  I  have  crossed  it,  it  was  less  than 
half  a  mile  in  width.  I  have  given  it  a  place  principally  to 
excite  an  attention  to  it. 

T'his  rock  also  occurs  in  beds  in  argillite  in  Guilford,  Vt. 
but  they  are  not  extensive. 

7.  SiENiTE.     Cleveland. 

Colored  Gamboge   Yelloiv,  and    crossed  by  oblique  parallel 
black   lines. 

This  rock  is  marked  in  three  places  on  the  map.  The 
first  is  in  Whateley  and  of  very  small  extent — the  second 
extends  from  Whately  to  the  south  part  of  Northamptt3n  ; 
and  the  third  is  in  Belchertown  and  Ludlow.  The  rock  in 
the  two  last  places  is  very  much  alike,  being  for  the  most 
part  a  kind  of  sienitic  granite.  In  the  first  mentioned  lo- 
cality the  rock  is  considerably  different  from  that  in  the  oth- 

*!  am  indebted  to  Prof.  Sillimau  for  this  suggestion. 


Geology,  cj-c.  of  the  Connecticut,  2% 

ers.  I  shall  confine  my  remnrks  principally  to  that  range 
extending  from  Whateiy  to  Northampton,  because  I  have 
examined  this  most. 

As  above  remarked,  this  range  appears  to  be  mostly  a  si- 
enitic  granite,  that  is,  a  modification  of  granite;  and  very 
different  from  that  sienite  which  is  associated  with  gray- 
wacke  and  greenstone.  A  person  coming  from  the  west  or 
north-west  towards  the  village  of  Northampton,  will  pass 
over  the  most  decided  granite,  associated  with  mica  slate, 
till  he  comes  within  four  or  five  miles  of  that  place.  He 
will  then  find  the  texture  of  the  rock  to  be  finer,  and  in  some 
instances  it  contains  a  portion  of  hornblende,  while  the  pro- 
portion of  quartz  is  somewhat  diminished,  the  felspar 
frequently  becomes  red.  Veins  of  graphic  and  common 
granite,  epidote,  he.  are  more  numerous,  and  the  rock  ap- 
pears more  disintegrated  than  the  coarse  grained  granite. 
In  one  part  of  a  mass  of  this  rock,  may  frequently  be  ob- 
served a  considerable  proportion  of  hornblende,  thus  giving 
the  rock  a  sienitic  aspect,  while  in  another  part,  only  a  few 
feet  distant,  this  mineral  is  wholly  wanting.  Coming  near- 
er Northampton,  however,  we  find  the  hornblende  more 
and  more  abundant,  until  we  arrive  at  the  eastern  edge  of 
the  range,  where  we  find  a  rock  containinglittle  else  than  fel- 
spar and  hornblende, forming  a  real  sienite.  I  have  never  yet 
seen  a  specimen,  however,  in  which  careful  inspection  could 
not  discover  both  mica  and  quartz.  The  felspar  is  usually 
deep  flesh  colored,  and  the  hornblende  sometimes  black 
and  sometimes  green.  On  the  eastern  border  of  this  range, 
especially  about  two  miles  north  of  the  village  of  Northamp- 
ton, on  the  west  side  of  the  stage  road,  this  sienite  assumes 
a  trappose  and  somewhat  columnar  form,  both  among  the 
loose  masses  and  those  in  place.*  Among  the  debris,  the 
three  sided  pyramidal  form  is  most  frequent;  sometimes  we 
find  a  three  sided  prism,  and  sometimes,  both  among  the 
loose  masses  and  those  in  place,  two,  three  or  four  faces  of  a 
prism  of  a  greater  number  of  sides. 

Another  spot  for  observing  some  interesting  facts  in  re- 
gard to  this  rock,  is  the  south  part  of  Whateiy.  Two  miles 
south  of  the  congregational  meeting-house,  on  the  road  to 

*This  fact  was  first  mentioned  to  me  bv  thr\t  indcfatizable  and  able  natu 
talist,  Mr.  Thomas  Nuttall. 


'30  Geology,  «i'C.  of  the  Connecticut. 

Hatfield,  is  a  manufactory  of  common  earthen  ware,  and 
here  a  small  stream,  running  east,  has  cut  across  the  great- 
er part  of  the  sienite  range,  and  laid  the  rock  bare  nearly 
the  whole  distance,  which  does  not  much  exceed  half  a 
mile.  Let  a  person  follow  up  the  south  side  of  this  stream, 
and  in  some  of  the  ledges  he  will  perceive  a  distinct  strati- 
fication of  the  sienite,  though  of  little  extent;  one  part  of 
the  same  ledge  being  often  stratified  and  the  other  amor- 
phous. In  this  place  he  will  see,  also,  numerous  intersec- 
tions of  granitic  and  other  veins  by  which  apart  of  the  rock 
has  been  displaced.  In  one  of  the  ledges  a  little  distance 
from  this  stream,  on  the  south  side  of  a  pond,  may  be  seen 
the  prototype  of  Fig.  6. 

Another  interesting  fact  may  be  noticed  in  the  sienitic 
granite  along  this  stream,  especially  on  the  northern  side, 
Bear  the  earthen  ware  manufactory.  The  rock  here  contains 
numerous  imbedded  masses  of  other  primitive  rocks,  as  g?ieiss, 
mica  slate.quartz.  hornblende,  and  a  finer  kind  of  sienite.  And 
what  is  peculiar, is  that  these  imbedded  fragments  are  almost 
uniformly  rounded — as  much  so  as  those  contained  in  the 
conglomerated  rocks  along  the  Connecticut;  and  they  are 
often  so  numerous  that  the  rock  appears  like  a  real  second- 
ary conglomerate.  The  masses  are  very  firmly  fixed  in  the 
base,  and  often  there  appears  a  mutual  impregnation  and 
sometimes  the  veins  of  granite  cut  through  the  imbedded 
fragments,  as  in  Fig.  6. 

Thus  we  have  a  real  conglomerated  sienite,  and  I  had  al- 
most said  a  conglomerated  granite  :  for  much  of  the  rock 
containing  these  fragments  is  destitute  of  hornblende, while 
all  the  ingredients  of  granite  are  present.  And  the  instan- 
ces in  which  this  conglomerated  rock  occurs, are  not  confin- 
ed to  the  particular  locality  above  named — but  it  is  to  be 
found  in  many  other  parts  of  the  range.  I  have  seen  bowl- 
ders of  it  in  Surry,  Alstead  and  Walpole  in  New-Hamp- 
shire, but  I  did  not  there  see  the  rock  in  place. 

The  Northampton  sienitic  range  lies  at  a  very  low  level. 
A  considerable  part  of  it  is  hidden  by  a  deposit  of  sand 
through  which  it  sometimes  projects.  The  sienite  in  Bel- 
chertown  is  also  rather  low.  All  the  remarks  above  made, 
in  relation  to  the  Northampton  range,  except  that  in  regard 
to  its  conglomerated  character,  will  apply  to  this.  The  best 
route  which  I  have  found  for  viewing  this  sienite, after  cross* 


t 

Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut.  31 

iiig  it  in  several  places,  is  to  pass  by  the  right  hand  road  from 
Belchertown  congregational  meeting-house,  to  the  meeting- 
house in  Ludlow. 

The  narrow  deposite  of  sienite  which  is  first  mentioned 
above,  as  occurring  in  Whately,  is  somewhat  different  in  its 
characters.  Let  the  observer  proceed  northerly  on  the 
main  road  from  the  congregational  meeting  house  one  mile, 
till  he  comes  to  the  farm  of  a  Mr.  Crafts.  On  the  left  hand 
side  of  the  road  he  will  find  a  ledge  of  rocks  which  are 
greenstone  slate,  nearly  allied  to  hornblende  slate,  and  some- 
times to  chlorite  slate.  TiCt  him  cross  these  strata  westerly, 
about  fifty  rods,  and  h#Brill  come  to  a  deposit  of  decided 
unstratified  primitive  greenstone,  about  twenty  rods  wide. 
Immediately  succeeding  this  rock,  he  will  find  the  sienite 
above  named.  It  consists  of  nearly  equal  proportions  of 
felspar  and  hornblende,  the  latter  of  a  dark  green  and  of  a 
distinctly  crystalline  structure;  and  the  former  white  and 
compact  or  very  finely  granular,  entirely  destitute  of  a  foli- 
ated structure,  or  pearly  lustre.  These  ingredients  seem 
to  be  promiscuously  blended,  and  the  rock  appears  to  be 
peculiarly  well  adapted  for  being  wrought  and  polished  for 
useful  and  ornamental  purposes.  The  bed  is  not  very  ex- 
tensive, only  about  six  rods  wide  at  the  place  above  men- 
tioned, and  I  have  never  been  able  to  trace  it  more  than  one 
or  two  miles.  It  is  separated  from  the  mica  slate  by  a  nar- 
row stratum  of  greenstone  slate. 

Sienite,  or  sienitic  granite,  occurs  in  many  other  places 
along  the  Connecticut;  but  in  no  other  place  have  I  found 
it  extensive  enough  to  deserve  a  place  on  the  map,  except 
perhaps  in  Chatham,  and  with  the  relative  situation  of  this  I 
am  not  sufficiently  well  acquainted.  Where  I  have  crossed 
it,  it  appeared  to  form  a  bed  in  porphyritic  hornblende  slate. 

8.  Primitive  Greenstone. — Cleaveland. 

Colored  Carmine  or  Rose  Red,  and  marked  hy  parallel  lines 
crossing  each  other. 

This  is  one  of  Werner's  varieties  of  primitive  trap.  If  it 
be  asked  what  that  is,  I  should  suppose  Mr.  Maclure's  supposi- 
tion to  be  not  an  improbable  one,  that  "what  Werner  calls 
primitive  trap  may  perhaps  be  compact  hornblende ;  or  per- 


32  Geology,  i^r.  of  the  Connecticut, 

haps  the  newest  floetz  trap  when  it  happens  to  cover  the 
primitive."  (Journal  of  Sci.  Vol.  I.  p.  212.)  Yet  there  are 
two  circumstances  in  regard  to  the  rock  here  denominated 
primitive  greenstone,  along  the  Connecticut,  which  have  led 
me  to  doubt  its  exact  indentity  with  our  newest  floetz  trap, 
or  secondary  greenstone.  1.  The  primitive  greenstone  is 
never  amygdaloidal;  while  a  great  part  of  the  secondary  is 
so.  2.  The  primitive  greenstone  not  merely  covers  other 
rocks,  but  forms  beds  in  them.  An  example  of  this  may 
be  seen  one  mile  east  of  the  Milford  marble  quarry  on  what 
is  called  the  old  road  leading  to  New-Haven  ;  where  the  > 

greenstone  lies  between  strata  of  aiiiil  intermediate  between  >t>^ 
greenstone  slate  and  mica  slate,  and  the  rocks  have  every 
appearance  of  being  contemporaneous. 

Primitive  greenstone  is  colored  in  the  following  places  on  • 
the  map,  viz.  at  West-Haven  and  Milford — at  Wolcott — at 
Whately,  in  the  western  part  of  Northfield  and  north  part 
of  Gill.  In  regard  to  that  in  Wolcott,  or  the  Eastern  part 
of  Waterbury,  I  know  but  little,  it  being  several  years  since 
I  observed  it,  and  some  snow  being  on  the  ground  at'the 
time.  1  put  it  down  merely  for  the  sake  of  pointing  out  its 
locality. 

The  most  extensive  deposit  of  the  rock  is  at  West  Haven 
and  Milford ;  on  both  sides,  but  especially  on  the  east  side, 
of  the  Verd  Antique  stratum.  The  hummocks  of  it  that 
appear  very  frequently,  but  irregularly,  very  much  re- 
semble the  detached  hills  of  secondary  greenstone,  except 
that  they  are  less  elevated  and  the  blocks  of  debris  are  usual- 
ly larger.  A  little  south  of  the  Derby  turnpike,  this  is  the 
first  rock  that  shows  itself  as  we  ascend  from  the  alluvial 
plain  of  New-Haven  on  the  Humphreysville  turnpike  alsOy 
there  is  but  a  narrow  stratum  of  chlorite  slate  separating  it 
from  the  alluvion. 

This  greenstone  often  becomes  stratified  on  both  sides  of 
the  ridge,  forming  greenstone  slate.  At  first,  we  perceive 
a  partial  and  interrupted  stratification;  and  in  a  few  feet  it 
becomes  decided,  extending  through  the  whole  mass. 
There  is  also  frequently  seen  a  double  stratification;  one  set 
of  planes  crossing  the  other  rectangularly  or  obliquely.  Well 
characterized  greenstone  slate,  however,  is  not  abundant  in 
Milford  or  West  Haven.  It  usually  soon  passes  into  chlo- 
ritic  slate,  or  even  into  a  bastard  mica  slate.      An  account  ol 


Geology,  fyc.  of  the  Connecticut.  33 

these  slates  has  been  long  since  given  to  the  public  by  Prof. 
Silliman  in  President  Dwight's  Statistical  account  of  New- 
Haven,  page  11.  Their  strata  run  N.  E.  and  S.  W.  and 
dip  to  the  S.  E.  The  angle  of  depression  below  the 
horizon  rarely  exceeding  30°  or  40=". 

Let  hand  specimens  of  this  primitive  greenstone  and  of  the 
secondary  greenstone  from  East  or  West  Rock  be  exhibited 
to  a  geologist  who  had  never  visited  the  localities,  and  he 
would  not  hesitate,  I  ihink,  to  pronounce  that  from  East  and 
West  Rock  to  be  primitive,  and  the  other  to  be  secondary; 
and  for  the  reason,  that  he  would  find  the  secondary  green- 
stone to  be  much  the  coarsest  and  most  crystalline.  The 
primitive  greenstone  of  this  locality  is  finely  granular,  and 
agrees,  in  this  respect,  with  Jameson's  description  of  transi- 
tion greenstone.  Indeed,  it  has  already  been  suggested  (Jour- 
nal of  Science,  Vol.  2.  p.  165.)  that  the  Verd  Antique  of  Mil- 
ford  may  possibly  belong  to  a  transition  series  ;  and  if  so,  this 
greenstone,  greenstone  slate,  and  chlorite  slate,  and  even 
that  bastard  mica  slate  which  is  sometimes  found  between 
this  marble  and  the  secondary,  may  belong  to  the  same  class. 
The  finely  granular  texture  of  transition  greenstone,  is  how- 
ever, by  no  means  a  distinctive  character:  since  both  the 
primitive  and  floetz  greenstones  are  described  as  possessing 
the  same. 

The  range  of  primitive  greenstone  in  Northfield  and  Gill, 
commences  about  two  miles  north  of  the  northern  termination 
of  secondary  greenstone,  and  extends  into  Vernon.  Its  char- 
acters are  very  similar  to  those  of  the  same  rock  at  Whately  and 
Milford.  Some  of  it  however  approaches  rather  nearer  the  na- 
ture of  sienite:  but  still  the  hornblende  predominates.  It  is  of- 
ten stratified  and  often  semi-stratified,  becoming  greenstone 
slate.  Near  the  southern  point  I  observed  a  vein  or  dike  of 
limpid  quartz  several  rods  long  and  one  foot  wide,  traversing 
this  rock,  having,  a  part  of  the  distance,  5a«/6anJe5  of  felspar. 
The  primitive  greenstone  occurring  in  Whately  is  some- 
what different  in  its  characters  from  that  in  Milford.  It  is 
coarse  and  usually  highly  crystalline  in  its  texture,  being  some- 
times rendered  almost  porphyritic  by  the  imbedded  peif^es 
of  compact  felspar,  and  sometimes  being  little  else  than  pure 
hornblende.  It  is  not  extensive  and  alternates  m  one  in- 
stance with  sienite,  the  locality  of  which  has  been  pointed 
out  in  treatinc:  of  tlie  latter  rock. 


<34  Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut. 

The  greatest  part  of  this  greenstone  is  greenstone  slate, 
the  strata  having  the  same  direction  as  that  at  Milford,  and  /> 
being  nearly  perpendicular  to  the  horizon, -kBeBring  a  few  de-/*^** 
grees  one  way  or  the  other  occasionally.  This  slate  is  als» 
more  crystalline  than  the  same  rock  at  New-Haven.  It  is 
however  a  less  degree  of  crystallization  that  chiefly  distinguish- 
es it  from  hornblende  slate,  towards  which  it  verges  and  into 
which  it  probably  passes.  Notwithstanding  the  very  deci- 
dedly fissile  character  of  this  slate,  I  have  noticed  in  some 
instances  a  tendency  in  it  to  the  trappose  form  ;  some  of  the 
specimens  having  a  cleavage,  like  many  crystals,  in  two  di- 
rections, one  coinciding  with  the  direction  of  the  strata  and 
the  other  running  across  the  strata.  The  proportion  of  fel- 
spar in  this  rock  is  small,  often  almost  imperceptible.  Chlo- 
rite, however,  abounds  as  in  the  greenstone  slate  of  Milford; 
and  often  it  becomes  real  chlorite  slate.  Seams  and  beds 
of  quartz  are  common  in  the  Whately  rock  and  also  granu- 
lar epidote. 

Some  of  the  rock  colored,  as  hornblende  slate  in  Shel- 
burne,  he.  much  resembles  certain  varieties  of  this  green- 
stone slate  ;  and  were  the  two  rocks  contiguous,  it  would  be 
difficult  to  draw  the  line  between  them.  Indeed,  by  some, 
this  Whately  rock  would  probably  be  denominated  horn- 
blende slate :  but  I  think  there  is  a  distinction  between  the 
two  rocks;  and  so  long  as  any  of  the  stratified  rocks  of  Mil- 
ford retain  the  name  of  greenstone  slate,  it  would  seem  the 
Whately  rock,  from  its  resemblance  and  similar  associations 
with  unstratified  primitive  greenstone,  demands  the  same  ap- 
pellation. An  observer  will  be  struck  with  the  resem- 
blance of  the  greenstone  strata  at  these  two  places,  and  with 
their  similar  situation  in  regard  to  mica  slate;  and  he  will 
be  disposed  to  enquire  whether  these  rocks  were  not  once 
continuous  between  these  two  places  ; — and  in  the  interme- 
diate space,  he  will  find  sufficient  evidence  in  the  great  quan- 
tity of  mingled  detritus  of  other  rocks,  that  the  higher  strata 
have  suflered  much  from  some  levelling  agent  in  former 
days. 


Geology,  ^-c.  of  the  Connecticut.  55 


9.  Argillite. 

Colored  Brick  Red. 

The  remarks  last  made  in  regard  to  the  primitive  green- 
stone, chlorite  slate,  &£C.  will  apply  to  this  rock.  For  we  find 
it  near  the  two  terminations  of  the  secondary  tract  and  on  the 
same  side  of  it— viz.  in  Woodbridge  at  the  south  end,  and  com- 
mencing on  the  north  at  Leyden  and  extending  at  least  as 
far  as  Rockingham,  Vermont.  The  northern  deposite  is 
much  the  most  extensive  and  is  best  characterized.  In  both 
places,  however,  it  is  often  tortuous  and  slightly  undulating, 
especially  when  passing  into  m.ica  slate.  It  embraces  nu- 
merous beds  and  "tuberculous  masses"  of  white  quartz — 
perhaps  the  milky  quartz.  The  passage  into  mica  slate  is 
usually  very  gradual,  the  characters  of  tlte  argillite  losing 
themselves  by  imperceptible  changes  in  those  of  the 
mica  slate,  so  that  for  a  consiieurblc  distance,  the  observer 
may  be  in  doubt  to  which  ro;  ,  co  i'cier  the  aggregate.  The 
Woodbridge  argillite  occasionally  alternates  with  mica  slate, 
(Journal  Sci.  Vol.  2.  p.  203.)  and  I  have  ascertained  that 
this  is  the  case  also  with  that  of  Vermont.  That  which  is 
just  beginning  to  pass  into  mica  slate,  alternates  also  with  a 
peculiar  coarse  limestone  to  be  described  under  the  next  ar- 
ticle; or  rather,  the  limestone  forms  beds  in  the  argillite — 
for  instance  in  Putney. 

A  principal  object  in  extending  the  map  so  much  beyond 
the  secondary  region  on  the  north,  was  to  include  all  the 
argillite  to  be  found  along  the  Connecticut.  Whether  I  have 
effected  this  object  I  am  not  certain.  The  Rev.  E.  D. 
Andrews,  who  communicated  to  me  several  facts  on  this 
subject,  is  of  opinion  that  the  northern  limit  of  the  argillite 
is  on  the  south  side  of  Williams'  river  in  Rockingham,  three 
miles  north  of  Bellows  Falls;  but  he  had  not  examined  the 
regions  beyond  with  sufficient  care  to  decide  the  point  with 
certainty. 

In  Guilford,  Vermont,  this  argillite  alternates  with  a  pecu- 
liar rock  which  Professor  Dewey  remarks  appears  "  to  be 
a  talco-argillite  with  much  quartz."  Its  stratification  is  less 
perfect  than  the  argillite ;  or,  rather,  it  has  more  of  the  ir- 
regularities and  tortuosities  of  m.ica  slate.     Its  small  extent 


3<>  Geology,  ^-c.  of  the  Connecticut. 

and  imperfect  characters  prevented  my  putting  it  down  as  a 
distinct  rock.  The  stage  road  from  Greenfield  to  Brattle- 
borougli  passes  over  it  in  the  southern  part  of  Guilford.  At 
the  same  place  occurs  well  characterized  chlorite  slate  ;  but 
not  constituting  any  extensive  rans;e. 

One  mile  south  of  this  spot,  another  rock  occurs,  which  an 
observer,  at  first  sight,  would  pronounce  to  be  granite.  It 
is  unstratified*  and  has  the  color  of  granite;  but  seems  to 
be  made  up  chiefly  of  quartz  with  a  little  mica  interspersed. 
It  seems  to  be  an  aggregate  to  which  no  particular  name  has 
as  yet  been  applied;  although  the  proportion  of  mica  is  so 
small  that  it  might  almost  be  called  quartz  simply.  It  ap- 
pears to  form  a  large  bed  in  argillite,  or  talco-argillite. 

The  strata  of  argillite,  both  in  Connecticut  and  Vermont, 
run  in  a  direction  nearly  N.  E.  and  S.  W.  and  are  highly  in- 
clined, generally  varying  but  little  from  perpendicular.  They 
are  undoubtedly  primitive — that  is,  the  evidence  of  this  is  as 
great  as  in  regard  to  the  mica  slate;  both  being  highly  inclined, 
and  destitute  of  organic  remains.  Indeed,  Bakewell,  who  has 
transferred  argillite  to  the  transition  class,  says  "  mica  slate 
has  a  near  affinity  to  clay  sVate  ;  and  as  I  have  arranged  the 
latter  with  rocks  of  the  second  class,  it  may  perhaps  be  doubted 
vi'hether  mica  slate  should  not  also  have  been  transferred  to 
the  same  class.''  (Geology  p.  83.)  Do  we  not  here  see  to 
what  temptations  the  system  maker  is  exposed,  when  pres- 
sed with  difficulties.^  However,  as  Professor  Kidd  remarks, 

*"  By  stratification  mc  understand  the  divisions  of  a  mass  of  rocks  into 
many  parallel  portions  whose  length  and  breadth  greatly  exceed  their  thick- 
ness." Korlli-.fimcrican  Rpv.  JVo.  29,  p.  232. 

"Where  a  rock  is  stratified,  is  it  necessarily  bounded  by  parallel  surfaces.' 
If  so,  let  us  hear  no  more  of  inantle-sliaped,  saddle-shaped,  basin-shaped, 
Irough-shappd  siratification."  Grecnongh^s  Geology,  Essay  1. 

I  would  beg  liberty  to  enquire,  whether  some  of  these  difficulties  might 
not  he  removed  by  defining  stratification  to  be  the  division  of  a  mass  of  rock 
into  many  parallel  or fonfc«/rir  portions.'  But  after  all,  tliis,  like  a  thousand 
other  dpfniitions  in  natural  history,  is  only  an  approximatian  to  the  truth  : 
For  if  mathematical  exactness  be  essential,  we  have  never  yet  seen  any  rock 
whose  divisions  were  either  parallel  or  concentric.  BakeWelTs  distinction 
(Geology  p.  31.)  between  "the  structure  which  is  caused  by  chemical  agen- 
cy, or  by  crystallization,  and  mechanical  depositions,"  would  perhaps  give 
relief  to  some  of  the  difficulties  in  regard  to  stratification,  were  geologists 
agreed  what  rocks  have  a  structure  caused  by  chemical  Agency  and  what 
ones  are  mechanical  deposites.  But  they  are  not  agreed  on  this  point,  as  is 
evident  fiom  the  very  example  he  brings  to  illustrate  his  principle,  when 
he  says,  that  the  division  of  slate  rocks  intolayers,  is  the  result  of  their  chem- 
ical composition. 


Geology,  Sfc.  of  the  Connecticut.  37 

it  seems  "the  terms  primitive  and  transition  are  daily  be- 
cominu' of  less  importance." 

Quarries  have  been  opened  in  the  Woodbridge  argillite 
and  it  is  employed  in  New-Haven  for  building.  In  V'er- 
mont  aiso,  they  have  been  wrought  in  Guilford,  and  Vernon, 
two  also  in  Dunimerston,  S.  E.  of  the  centre  of  the  town,  two 
in  Putney,  one  and  a  half  miles  north  of  the  meeting-house, 
and  one  in  Rockingham,  a  mile  north  of  Bellows  Falls.  In 
most  of  these  the  slate  is  of  a  good  quality  and  easily  ob- 
tained; but  at  present  they  are  not  much  wrought  on  ac- 
count of  the  little  demand  for  it,  and  consequent  low  price. 

10.  Limestone. 

Granular  Limestone,  Eaton,  Index,  ^c. 

Colored  with  India  Ink. 

This  rock,  in  the  country  covered  by  the  map,  always 
exists  in  beds  in  mica  slate  and  argillite  :  never  occu- 
pying, however,  so  much  as  half  the  surface.  I  have  co- 
lored it  in  that  region  where  it  occurs  most  abundantly, 
that  is,  in  the  mica  slate  nearest  the  argillite  and  the  sand- 
stone ;  although  its  beds  exist  in  nearly  all  the  mica  slate 
north  of  Northampton  on  the  west  side  of  the  river.  It  is 
remarkably  uniform  in  its  appearance.  Its  exterior,  when  it 
has  long  been  exposed  to  the  weather,  is  of  a  dark  brown 
color,  showing  more  marks  of  decomposition  than  any 
other  rock  in  this  region.  The  carbonate  of  lime  is  usual- 
ly worn  away  at  least  an  inch  deep  on  the  surface,  and 
the  silex  and  mica  are  left  in  coarse  grains,  or  warts,  or  in 
projecting  ridges.  When  newly  broken  the  mica  is  uniform- 
ly of  a  light  gray,  and  the  texture  is  coarsely  granular  and 
dull,  except  the  glimmering  of  scales  of  mica.  The  con- 
stituents of  the  rock  are  carbonate  of  lime,  mica  and  silex, 
in  somewhat  variable  proportions.  In  a  specimen  sent  to 
Prof.  Dewey,  he  found  about  fifty  per  cent  of  carbonate  of 
lime  and  fifty  of  silex  and  mica.  He  judged  that  the  silex 
constituted  about  thirty  five  per  cent  and  the  mica  fifteen : 
and  he  judiciously  adds,  "  the  mica  is  in  so  great  proportion, 
you  cannot  call  it  silicious  limestone.  At  least,  ought  it 
not  to  be  called  a  granitic  aggregate,  or  silicious  limestone 
mixed  with  mica  ?" 


38  Geology,  &fc.  of  the  Connecticut. 

The  beds  of  this  rock  vary  in  width  from  a  few  inches 
to  20  feet,  and  they  rarely  exceed  this.  They  are  un- 
stratified,  are  sometimes  traversed  by  veins  of  quartz,  or 
more  frequently  granite,  and  sometimes  the  rock  becomes 
so  mixed  with  the  mica  slate,  as  to  form  one  of  its  constitu- 
ent parts.  Rhombic  crystals  of  carbonate  of  lime,  of  a 
yellowish  brown  color,  and  agreeing  by  goniometrical  ad- 
measurement with  the  primitive  form,  are  found  imbedded 
in  this  limestone,  and  sometimes  these  are  connected 
with  irregulnr  masses  of  quartz,  and  larger  plates  of  mica. 
It  forms,  when  blasted,  a  good  stone  for  underpinning.  I 
bave  never  seen  it  along  the  Connecticut,  except  in  the 
mica  slate  at  the  northwest  part  of  the  map — noi^  in  any 
part  of  New-England,  nor  in  any  mineralogical  cabinet, — 
yet  it  seemed  to  deserve  a  place  on  the  map,  and  a  descrip- 
tion. 

1 1 .  Verd  Antique. — Cleaveland. 

Ophicalce  Veinet.  Brongniart. 

Colored  blue,  and  marked  with  oblique  parallel  lines. 

The  rich  and  elegant  marble  obtained  from  this  rock  has 
induced  me  to  give  it  a  place  on  the  map,  although  its  ex- 
tent is  very  limited.  It  extends  northerly  from  Milford 
harbour,  9  or  10  miles,  apparently  terminating  two  miles 
west  of  Yale  College.  It  constitutes  an  extensive  bed  in 
chlorite  slate,  with  which  it  sometimes  alternates.  I  am 
inclined,  however,  to  the  opinion,  that  the  slate  lying  im- 
mediately contiguous  to  the  Verd  Antique,  although  not 
well  characterised,  approaches  nearest  to  greenstone 
slate.  Yet,  decided  chlorite  slate,  appears  usually  only  a 
few  rods  distant.  In  some  places,  the  Verd  Antique  is  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  in  width,  and  forms  ledges  of  considera- 
ble elevation  and  extent.  It  is  stratified — the  layers  being 
thick  and  parallel  to  the  slate  rock  enclosing  it.  The  grain 
is  fine ;  the  rock  is  traversed  by  veins  of  calcareous 
spar,  magnesian  carbonate  of  lime,  and  asbestus;  and 
is  associated  with  chromate  of  iron  and  magnetic  oxide 
of  iron,  diffused,  more  or  less,  through  the  entire  body  of 
the  marble,  and  forming  dark  spots  and  clouds.  The  ser- 
pentine is  twisted  and  entangled  in  the  limestone  in  almost 
every  form,  and  the  green  color  of  the  rock  may  in  gene- 


Geology,  «^c.  of  the  Connecticut,  39 

ral  be  imputed  to  oxid  of  chrome — sometimes  to  the  pres- 
ence of  serpentine,  colored  however,  probably  by  the 
same  oxid. 

This  rock  has  been  extensively  quarried  in  two  places, 
one  in  Milford,  7  miles  from  New-Haven,  and  the  other 
only  2i  miles  from  the  city.  From  these  are  obtaj.icd  a 
marble  which  vies  for  elegance  with  any  in  the  world.  In- 
deed, in  the  extensive  collection  of  marbles  and  porphy- 
ries in  Col.  Gibbs'  cabinet  in  Yale  College,  we  appeal  to 
those  who  have  seen  them,  whether  any  specimens  exceed, 
or  even  equal  in  beauty  and  richness  the  Verd  Antique  from 
Milford.  The  varied  clouding  and  shading  of  the  gray, 
or  blue  ground  of  this  marble  with  white,  black,  green,  or- 
ange and  gold  yellow,  indeed,  with  varieties  of  almost 
every  color  of  the  prism,  give  it  an  elegance  that  can  be 
realized  only  by  those  who  examine  it.  The  working  of 
this  marble  is  difficult  and  expensive,  and  it  is  earnestly 
hoped  that  the  patrician  part  of  our  community  will 
not,  by  resorting  to  Europe  for  marbles,  which,  to  say  the 
least,  are  no  more  elegant  than  this,  compel  the  proprie- 
tors of  these  quarries  to  abandon  the  undertaking.  Spe- 
cimens of  this  marble  may  be  seen  in  most  of  the  dwel- 
lings of  the  wealthy  citizens  of  New-Haven;  and  many  of 
the  monuments  in  the  grave  yard  of  that  city,  are  of  the 
Verd  Antique.  Several  chimney  pieces  of  it  may  be  seen 
in  the  Capitol  at  Washington. 

Most  of  these  facts  in  relation  to  this  rock,  I  derive  from 
the  published  accounts  of  it  by  Professor  Silliman.  (See 
Cleaveland's  Mineralogy  under  Gran.  Limestone,  Marble, 
and  Verd  Antique,  2d  Edit.  Also,  Journal  Sci.  vol.  2,  p. 
165.)  A  minute  account  of  this  interesting  formation  is 
still  wanting;  and  Mr.  Silliman  has  promised  it.  (See 
•Tour.  Sci.  vol.  2,  p.  166.) 

12.     Old  Red  Sandstone.      Werner,     Cleaveland. 

It  is  agreed  I  believe  among  Geologists  who  have  ex- 
amined this  region,  that  an  extensive  deposite  of  this  rock 
exists  along  the  Connecticut.  (See  Cleaveland's  Mineralo- 
gy, 2d  Edit.  p.  759.  Eaton's  Index  2d  Edit.  p.  207.  Tour 
between  Hartford  and  Quebec,  p.  21,  andMaclure's  Geol- 
ogy of  the  United  States.)  It  is  probably  the  oldest  se- 
condary  rock  in  this  region;   and  generally  lies  beneatli  all 


40  Geology,  S^c.  of  the  Connecticut. 

the  rest.  So  that  it  does  not,  I  apprehend,  occupy  so  much 
of  the  surface,  as  is  generally  supposed.  There  is  much 
slaty  sandstone,  red  and  gray,  and  some  of  it  very  argilla- 
ceous, found  along  this  river,  which  does  not  appear  to  be 
the  old  red  sandstone  of  Werner ;  but  to  be  a  different 
formation,  which  I  have  denominated  the  Coal  Formation  ; 
and  which  others  have  called  gray  wacke  slate.  I  know  of 
no  instance  in  which  I  am  certain  that  decided  old  red 
sandstone  lies  above  the  coal  formation;  although  they 
evidently  pass  into  one  another.  This  coal  formation, 
with  the  secondary  greenstone  and  alluvion,  occupies,  I 
should  judge,  nearly  two  thirds  of  the  secondary  tract 
along  the  Connecticut;  leaving  not  more  than  one  third  for 
the  old  red  sandstone.  This  rock  occupies  the  greatest 
extent  of  surface,  as  the  map  will  show,  in  the  vicinity  of 
New-Haven.  Along  the  western  side  of  the  secondary,  it 
may  be  found  all  the  distance,  (occasionally  covered  by 
alluvion,)  from  New-Haven  to  Bernardston,  Mass.  Yet, 
it  forms  but  few  ridges  or  peaks  of  much  altitude  until  we 
come  to  the  south  part  of  Deerfield.  There  it  rises  ab- 
ruptly from  an  alluvial  plain  in  the  form  of  the  frustrum  of 
a  cone,  five  hundred  feet  above  the  Connecticut;  and  the 
peak  is  called  Sugar  Loaf;  being  but  a  few  rods  in  diame- 
ter at  the  top,  and  forming  a  striking  feature  in  the  scene- 
ry of  the  country.  This  is  the  commencement  of  a  range, 
which,  five  miles  north,  rises  700  feet  above  the  adjoining 
plain,  and  then  slopes  to  the  north,  almost  disappearing  in 
Greenfield  ;  but  rising  again  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
town  and  sending  off  one  or  two  spurs  into  Gill. 

The  grain,  even  of  the  finest  variety  of  this  sandstone, 
may  be  called  coarse.  Its  colour  is  dark  reddish,  some- 
times presenting  spots  or  veins,  of  light  gray,  as  in  Hal- 
field,  Mass.  Its  cement  is  argillo-ferruginous,  and  the  rock 
usually  exhales  an  argillaceous  odour  when  breathed  upon. 
It  contains  a  large  quantity  of  light  gray  mica,  the  plates 
being  sometimes  half  an  inch,  or  more,  across,  and  insert- 
ed promiscuously.  This  description  applies  to  the  finest 
varieties  of  old  red  sandstone.  But  this  passes  into  and 
alternates  With  conglomerates  of  the  same  general  charac- 
terandof  variousdegrees  of  coarseness.  Theimbedded  peb- 
bles, vary  in  size  from  that  of  a  musket  ball  to  four  or  five 
inches  in  diameter.  They  are  usually  quartz,  felspar,  graphic 


Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut.  41 

and  common  granite,  and  rarely  gneiss  or  mica  slate.  The 
colorint^  matter  of  the  rock,  in  most  instances,  has  pene- 
trated tlirough  these  pebbles,  giving  the  graritic  nodules 
the  same  color  as  the  rock,  and  the  quartz  a  bluish  as- 
pect. This  conglomerate  frequently  alternates  with  the 
sandstone,  and  one  half  of  the  layer  of  a  rock  is  sometimes 
sandstone,  and  the  other  half  conglomerate,  no  tissure  be- 
ing between  them.  Generally  speaking,  hov/ever,  the 
puddingstone  increases  in  quantity  and  coarseness  as  we 
ascend  a  mountain  of  this  rock,  and  all  the  upper  part  of 
the  hill  is  sometimes  composed  of  it.  Probably  more  than 
one  half  of  the  old  red  sandstone  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  range  is  this  conglomerate  :  yet,  as  it  is  evidently  a 
mere  variety  of  the  sandstone,  it  was  thought  aitogeth- 
er  unnecessary  to  attempt  a  division  by  different  colors 
on  the  map. 

A  considerable  part  of  the  range  of  this  rock  colored 
on  the  east  side  of  Connecticut  river,  i?  somewhat  dif- 
ferent in  its  appearance  from  that  I  have  been  describing 
on  the  other  side.  At  least,  there  is  one  very  abundant 
variety  that  is  not  found  on  the  west  side.  It  consists  of  a 
fine,  siliceous,  red  sand,  adhering  together  with  but  very 
little  visible  cement.  It  has,  however,  an  argillaceous 
odour.  The  coherence  is  not  as  strong  as  in  the  coarser 
sandstone,  it  being  slightly  friable.  This  rock  may  be  seen 
in  place  in  the  southwest  corner  of  Ludlow,  and  the  east 
part  of  Long  Meadow,  Enfield,  Somers,  Ellington,  kc. ;  and 
it  forms  a  neater  and  handsomer  building  stone  than  any 
other  rock  of  the  sandstone  family  which  I  have  ever  seen, 

A  part  of  this  range  of  red  sandstone,  east  of  Connecti- 
cut river,  appears  also  to  be  verging  towards  the  sandstone 
constituting  the  coal  formation.  Examples  of  this  may  be 
seen  at  the  extensive  quarry  in  Chatham,  and  also  in  Mid- 
dletown — there  seems  to  be  a  gradual  passage  of  one 
rock  into  the  other — and  the  strata  of  both  these  r^^cks 
have  their  dip  in  such  a  direction,  as  to  lead  one,  at  ^^=t' 
to  conclude  that  this  old  red  sandstone  lies  above  the  c^^' 
formation.  The  dip  of  both  rocks  is  to  the  east.  It  do^s 
not  follow,  however,  from  this  circumstance,  alone,  th^*^ 
the  red  sandstone  does  in  fact  repose  on  the  other  rock^* 
Thus,  let  A  B  be  a  profile  crossing  the  valley  of  the  CcnneC 
ticut.  and  exhibiting  the  strata  of  old  red  sandstone,  havini; 

6 


42 


Geology,  4'C.  of  the  Connecticut. 


a  dip  as  represented  by  the  parallel  lines.  Let  C  D  be  a 
deposite  of  the  coal  formation  lying  upon  the  old  red  sand- 
stone, the  strata  of  which  have  the  same  dip.  Now,  to 
an  observer  passing  along  the  surface  from  A  to  D,  the  red 
sandstone,  between  A  and  C,  appears  to  lie  upon  the  coal 
formation  between  C  and  D,  whereas,  the  reverse  is  the 
fact.  This  might  apply  to  the  rocks  we  are  considering  ia 
Connecticut,  were  it  not  for  what  I  think  to  be  the  fact, 
(hat  there  is  a  gradual  passage  of  the  old  red  sandstone  in- 
to the  coal  formation. 


These,  and  some  other  circumstances,  made  me  suspi- 
cious, for  a  time,  that  this  range  of  sandstone  east  of  Con- 
necticut river,  might  not  be  the  real  old  red  sandstone,  but 
a  member  of  the  coal  formation  ; — and  it  was  not  till  I  had 
traversed  it  the  third  time,  that  I  felt  entirely  satisfied. 
But  much  of  it  certainly  does  not  differ,  at  all  as  I  could 
discern,  from  the  old  red  sandstone  on  the  western  side  of 
the  river;  and  we  find  likewise  the  very  same  conglome- 
rate. The  strata  also,  are  of  a  similar  thickness  and  dip, 
varying  as  to  the  form,  from  six  inches  to  two  or  three 
feet;  and  as  to  the  latter  from  10°  to  30°  ;  usually,  how- 
ever, not  more  than  10°.  This  dip,  in  all  the  red  sand- 
stone of  the  Connecticut,  is  below  the  eastern  part  of  the 
liorizon,  with  the  single  exception  of  a  ledge  that  appears 
in  the  west  street  of  Hatfield,  where  the  dip  is  to  the 
west. 

This  rock  is  extensively  quarried  for  the  purpose  of 
building,  in  almost  every  town  along  the  river.  Noble 
specimens  may  be  seen  in  the  vestibules  of  the  churches  in 
Ncw-Ilaven. 


Geology  fyc,  of  the  Connecticut,  43 

Organic  Remains. 

These  are  very  rare  in  our  old  red  sandstone.  I  found, 
however,  in  Deerfield  mountain,  one  or  two  specimens  that 
belong  to  the  petrifacta  of  Martin  ;  there  being  a  perfect 
substitution  of  a  finer  grained  sandstone  for  the  original 
substance.  I  found  only  fragments,  about  four  or  five  inches 
long,  and  they  appear  to  belong  to  the  genus  phylolite  of 
Gmelin's  Linnaean  System,  and  to  the  species  lignite. 
They  are  a  third  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  a  little  flat- 
tened ;  and  seem  to  agree  with  Professor  Eaton's  descrip- 
tion of  certain  petrifactions  found  in  red  sandstone  on  the 
Catskill  Mountain;  (Index  p.  211.)  which  he  is  inclined 
to  refer  "  to  the  tribe  of  naked  Vermes.'' 

Fossil  Bones. 

These  occur  in  East  Windsor,  east  parish,  one  hundred 
rods  south  of  Ketch's  Mills.  They  belong  to  the  conserva- 
la  of  Martin,  and,  without  much  doubt,  to  the  genus  zooli- 
ihus  of  Gmelin.  The  animal  must  have  been  about  five 
feet  in  length,  and  lay  horizontally  in  the  rock,  eighteen 
ieet  below  its  top,  and  twenty-three  below  tbe  surface  of 
the  ground.  The  tail  bone,  as  Dr.  Porter,  who  lives  near 
the  spot,  informed  me,  projected  beyond  the  general  mass 
containing  the  body  of  the  skeleton,  about  eighteen  inches 
in  a  curvilinean  direction.  This,  of  which  that  gentleman 
gave  me  a  specimen,  was  easily  distinguished  by  its  nu- 
merous articulations.  On  exposure  to  the  air,  the  bones 
begin  to  crumble  and  lose  the  appearance  they  presented 
when  first  dug  up, 

'The-rock  in  which  these  bones  were  found,  is  decidedly 
the  old  red  sandstone.  It  agrees  exactly  with"  that  rock 
as  it  exists  at  New-Haven,  and  to  the  distance  of  one  hun- 
dred miles  north  from  that  town.  The  rock  enclosing  the 
bones  is  a  little  coarser  than  the  finest  varieties  of  this 
rock,  and  in  the  rock  above  the  bones,  was  found  some 
moderately  coarse  conglomerate.  Whatever  doubt  I  had 
with  regard  to  some  other  vari;  lies  of  rock  in  that  vicini- 
ty, being  the  real  old  red  sandstone,  1  could  havo  no 
doubt  in  regard  to  this,  after  examining  if. 


44  Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut, 

13.       Seco.\daky  Greenstone.     Cleaveland. 
Colored  Carmine,  or  Rose  Red. 

To  ^ive  the  ranges  of  this  rock,  was  one  of  the  princi- 
pal objects  in  constructing  the  accompanying  map.  For 
although  it  be  an  anomalous,  it  is  a  highly  interesting 
fcrmation.  The  high  mural  precipices  that  almost  uni- 
versally show  their  naked  faces  in  the  ridges  and  hil- 
locks of  this  rock — the  immense  quantity  of  debris  that 
frequentl}'  slope  up  half,  or  two  thirds  the  distance  to 
their  summits — and  the  thin  tufts  of  trees  that  crown  their 
tops,  form  much  of  the  peculiar  scenery  of  the  Connecti- 
cut. They  remind  the  European  of  the  basaltic  and 
other  trap  ridges  of  Scotland,  Ireland,  Saxony,  Auvergne, 
Italy,  &LC. 

In  regard  to  the  greenstone*  north  of  Hartford,  I  feel 
confident  that  every  range  of  it  to  be  found  in  place,  is  in- 
serted on  the  map.  South  of  Hartford  some  small  and  low 
hillocks  of  it  may  have  been  overlooked,  notwithstand- 
ing all  the  assistance  I  have  received  from  Prof.  Silliman 
and  Dr.  Percival.  For,  in  some  places,  this  rock  seems  to 
be  but  a  few  feet  in  thickness  above  the  sandstones,  and  to 
be  less  continuous  than  in  the  northern  part  of  the  map. 
In  East-Haven  and  Branford  especially,  there  are  so  many 
ridges  of  greenstone,  and  these  so  irregular,  that  it  is  diffi- 
cuk,  on  a  map  of  such  a  scale,  to  make  them  all  distinct 
and  accurate.! 

The  most  southerly  point  of  greenstone  on  the  map  is 
the  bluff  in  East-Haven,  which  fronts  Long  Island  Sound, 
and  is  about  one  mile  and  an  half  north  of  the  Light-House. 
The  most  northerly  points  of  this  rock  are  in  Gill,  auJ'Jii . 
Ti^  lji|r  w-  The  greenstone  which  occurs  in  the  upper 
part  of  Northfield,  is  more  crystalline  and  of  a  coarser  tex- 
ture than  in  the  intermediate  distance,  and  is  undoubtedly 

*  Trt  save  room,  I  shall  omit,  in  the  remainder  of  this  article,  the  term 
secondary,  as  applied  at  the  head  of  the  article. 

t  There  oii?;ht  to  be  a  geolosfical  map  of  the  regfion  about  New-Haven, 
on  a  larger  scale  than  the  one  I  have  given  :  and  we  could  name  more  thaa 
one  geutleinaa  in  that  city,  wlio  is  amply  quMlitieJ  for  its  construction. 


Geology,  ^t-  of  the  Connecticut.  45 

primitive  greenstone.    Some  of    the  specimens  scarcely 
differ  from    pure   hornblende. 

Between  the  two  extremities  of  granite  above  named, 
there  i?  not  a  mile,  except  in  Amherst,  where  this  rock  ma_y 
not  be  found  in  some  part  of  the  valley  of  the  Connecticut 
The  most  continuous  and  lofty  ridge  is  that  of  which  West- 
Rock  may  be  considered  as  the  southern  termination — al- 
though the  west  rock  range  is  broken  off  a  few  miles  be- 
tween Mount  Carmel  and  the  Meriden  or  Berlin  moun- 
tains. This  ridge  from  West-Rock  to  Cheshire,  presses 
hard  upon  the  primitive  rocks,  often  approaching  the  slate 
within  a  few  rods.  It  presents,  on  the  west,  a  lofty  naked 
wall,  appearing  as  if  nature  had  erected  this  mighty  ram- 
part to  guard  the  secondary  region  of  the  Connecticut 
from  the  encroachments  of  the  primitive ;  while  the 
great  quantity  of  broken  fragments  along  its  base  and  scat- 
tered in  abundance  for  four  or  five  miles  over  the  chlo- 
rite slate  and  argillite,  evince  that  these  ridges  *•©#' 
greenstone  were  once  much  more  elevated  than  at 
present.  This  range  divides  in  the  northern  part  of 
Hamden,  the  eastern  branch  forming  Mount  Carmel,  and 
the  western  branch  continuing  into  Southington,  where  it 
chiefly  disappears,  although  immense  bowlders  of  green- 
stone are  scattered  over  the  surface  until  we  come  to  the 
north  part  of  Farmington.  Here  the  ridge  again  commen- 
ces, and  inclining  considerably  to  the  right,  terminates  in 
the  north-east  corner  of  Granby,  Connecticut,  in  the  Meni- 
tick  or  Manitick  mountain,  on  the  top  of  which  runs  the 
line  between  Granby  and  Suftield. 

Mount  Carmel  terminates  a  little  east  of  north  from  New- 
Haven,  and  until  we  reach  the  Meriden  or  Berlin  mountains, 
thegreen«tone  disappears.  Commencing  with  these  moun- 
tains,we  find  an  almost  uninterrupted  ridge  ofgreenstone, con- - 
tinning  into  Massachusetts.  Its  elevation  decreases,  for  the-  ^ 
most  part,  as  we  go  north,  until  we  come  to  East-Hampton, 
when  it  suddenly  rises,  like  the  coil  of  a  huge  serpent,  and 
forms  Mount  Tom,  probably  the  highest  point  in  the  green- 
stone ranges  of  New-England.  I  do  not  know  that  its 
height  has  ever  been  accurately  measured:  but,  comparinj? 
it  with  Holyoke,  it  cannot  be  much  less  than  a  thousand 
feet  above  Connecticut  river.     Connccticnt  river  crosses 


46  Geology,  ^-c.  of  the  Connecticut. 

this  range  at  the  north  end  of  Mount  Tom,  and  on  the  op- 
posite bank  it  rises  again  precipitously  and  forms  Mount 
Holyoke.  This  I  found,  with  a  nice  sextant,  to  be  eight 
hundred  and  thirty  feet  above  Connecticut  river.  North 
of  Holyoke  the  greenstone  is  curved  towards  the  right  and 
continues  of  nearly  the  same  elevation  until  it  terminates 
near  the  north-west  corner  of  Belchertown,  having  reach- 
ed the  primitive  region. 

Nine  or  ten  miles  north-westerly  from  this  point,  we  find 
a  narrow  ridge  of  greenstone  commencing,  and  pursuing  a 
course  considerably  west  of  north,  it  passes  through  Sun- 
derland, crosses  Connecticut  river,  runs  through  Deerfield, 
crosses  Deerfield  river,  and  extending  through  a  part  of 
Greenfield,  terminates  at  the  falls  in  Connecticut  river.  A 
few  rod?  east  of  this  termination  another  range  commenc- 
es and  runs  east  of  north  through  Gill,  with  some  interrup- 
tions, till  it  reaches  its  extreme  northern  point  -Befitei^- 
"firiri,  two  miles  south  of  the  primitive  greenstone. 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  map,  that  these  greenstone  ridges 
separate  the  old  red  sandstone  from  the  coal  formation 
nearly  the  whole  distance  from  Berlin  to  Northfield;  and 
the  rocks  of  the  coal  formation  are  frequently  found  lying 
above  the  greenstone.  The  range  oi  green  stone  in  Sun- 
derland is  very  narrow,  and  being  in  an  unfrequented  spot 
along  the  western  margin  of  Mouni  Toby,  it  was  a  long  time 
before  I  discovered  its  existence.  Having  once  found  it, 
however,  it  was  traced,  without  much  difficulty,  except 
what  an  almost  impassable  precipice  presented.  It  is  from 
ten  to  eighty  rods  wide.  As  you  ascend  the  mountain  from 
the  west,  you  first  pass  over  a  formation  of  old  red  sand- 
stone, which  is  here  a  coarse  pudding-stone.  Next  you 
come  upon  the  greenstone,  most  of  which  is  amygdaloidal, 
and  is,  so  far  as  hand  specimens  will  enable  us  to  decide, 
the  real  toad  stone  of  Derbyshire.  Immediately  east  ol 
the  green-stone  you  find  the  coarse,  brownish  red,  and  the 
fine,  fissile,  argillaceous,  gray  and  red  sandstone  slates  of 
the  coal  formation.  These  uniformly  rise  in  higher  ledges 
than  the  greenstone;  even  one  hundred  or  one  hundred 
and  fifty  feet  above  it.  As  you  pass  along  in  the  direction 
of  the  greenstone  ridge,  these  precipices  are  not  more  than 
ten  feet  from  you  on  one  hand,  and  the  greenstone  at  no 


Geology^  Sfc.  of  the  Connecticut.  47 

greater  distance  on  the  other.  The  broken  fragments  of 
the  two  rocks  are  confusedly  mingled  together,  the  sand- 
stone breaking  into  large  tables,  and  the  greenstone  into 
pieces  only  a  few  inches  across.  These  huge  tables  are 
covered  and  fringed  with  a  great  variety  of  cryptogamous 
plants,  such  as  various  species  of  Pamelia,  Juggermannia, 
Sticta,  Collema,  Bartramia,  Hypnum,  Polypodium,  Aspidium^ 
Aspknum,  S/c. ;  most  of  which  are  evergreen.  And  if  the 
geologist  be  also  a  lover  of  this  department  of  botany,  he 
will  find  the  wild  and  confused  blending  of  such  a  variety  of 
interesting  objects  to  repay  him  amply  for  tl>e  labor  and 
even  danger  of  clambering  over  the  fragments.  I  have 
never  seen  any  rocks  that  seemed  so  congenial  to  the 
growth  of  cryptogamous  plants  as  those  constituting  Mount 
Toby. 

But  to  return  from  this  digression.  As  the  observer  fol- 
lows this  greenstone  southerly,  commencing  at  its  northern 
extremity  on  the  banks  of  Connecticut  river,  and  sees  the 
lofty  precipices  of  sandstone  overhanging  it,  little  doubt 
will  remain  in  his  mind  that  the  greenstone  actually  passes 
under  the  sandstone.  Yet  any  one  acquainted  with  the 
anomalies  of  trap  rocks  will  have  the  question  arising  in 
his  mind,  may  not  this  greenstone,  after  all,  here  constitute 
an  extensive  dike?  and  he  will  hardly  be  satisfied  until  he 
sees  the  actual  contact  of  the  two  rocks  in  place.  One 
mile  north-east  of  Sunderland  meeting-house,  the  greater 
part  of  the  greenstone  ridge  disappears  and  seems  to  run 
under  the  sandstone;  but  here  a  {ew  feet  of  debris  hide  the 
actual  junction.  A  little  farther  couth  an  actual  junction 
is  seen;  but  the  huge  table  of  sandstone  resting  on  the  trap 
is  removed  a  iew  feet  from  its  original  position.  And,  in- 
deed, I  never  knev/  expectation  so  frequently  disappointed, 
just  at  the  moment  when  it  seemed  about  to  be  realized,  as 
in  examining  this  range.  It  seems  as  if  nature  intended  here 
to  teach  the  geologist  a  lesson  of  patience.  But,  at  length, 
one  mile  and  a  half  south-east  of  Sunderland  meeting- 
house, the  observer  comes  to  a  valley  worn  by  a  brook, 
where  finding  the  greenstone,  which  thus  far  has  preserved 
almost  a  right  line,  widening  towards  the  east,  and  form- 
ing a  reentering  angle  in  the  sandstone,  the  angular 
point  being  in  the   brook;  he  will  have  little  doubt  that 


48  Geology,  ^'C.  of  the  Connecticut. 

the  greenstone  is  here  disclosed  by  the  abrasion  of 
the  superincumbent  sandstone — ^and  on  following  the 
line  of  junction  a  few  rods  on  the  south  side  of  the 
brook,  he  will  find  the  sandstone  in  place  lying  directly  on 
the  greenstone,  also  in  place.  To  one  who  has  been  accus- 
tomed to  see  this  latter  rock  mounting  above  every  other 
and  monopolizing  so  muchspace  forits  broken  fragments,  it 
must  be  gratifying  to  see  it  at  last  pressed  down  by  a  supe- 
rior stratum,  and  buried  by  the  debris  of  a  higher  rock.  In 
two  places  south  of  the  point  above  described,  other  brooks 
have  worn  away  the  sandstone,  and  the  greenstone  forms 
in  it  a  like  reentering  angle  ;  but  the  actual  contact  of  the 
rocks  is  hidden. 

But  Sunderland  is  not,  after  all,  the  best  spot  for  observ- 
ing the  rocks  of  the  coal  formation  lying  above  the  green- 
stone. I  have  been  thus  particular  in  describing  the  range 
of  greenstone  in  that  place,  rather  to  exhibit  the  difficulties 
and  trials  to  which  the  geologist  is  subject  in  examining 
the  trap  ranges  of  the  Connecticut,  than  because  it  was 
necessary  for  this  particular  purpose. 

Let  the  observer  follow  the  Sunderland  greenstone  ridge 
northerly  across  Connecticut  river  into  Deerfield,  and  he 
will  here  find  it  widening  and  increasing  in  altitude,  pre- 
senting a  mural  precipice  on  the  west,  and  a  gradual  slope 
on  the  east.  Where  it  cros3es  Deerfield  river  it  has  every 
appearance  of  a  vast  dyke  :  although  the  sandstone  rocks 
do  not  appear  immediately  in  contact  with  it.  From  the 
top  of  the  greenstone  to  the  bottom  of  the  river  is  more 
than  two  hundred  feet.  The  range  continues  to  the  falls 
in  Gill,  where,  as  before  observed,  it  terminates,  and  is  suc- 
ceeded by  the  red  sandstone  or  conglomerate.  And  here 
would  I  mention  another  fact  in  regard  to  the  greenstone 
and  rocks  of  the  coal  formation.  The  latter  do  not  mere- 
ly lie  above  the  former,  but  ihty  alternate  xcith  one  another. 
Let  the  observer  pass  round  the  northern  termination  of 
the  greenstone  range  first  mentioned,  and  follow  down  a 
small  river  called  Fall  river,  to  its  mouth,  and  just  at  this 
point  he  will  see  the  fine-grained,  red,  fissile,  argillaceous 
sandstone  of  the  coal  formation,  mounting  up  fifty  feet  upon 
the  back  of  the  greenstone  at  an  angle  of  forty-five  degrees* 
And  if  he  follow  down  the  west  bank  of  the  Connecticut 


Geology,  S/c.  of  the  Connecticut.  49 

two  miles,  he  will  have  repeated  opportunities  of  observing 
the  same  fact ;  the  river  having  worn  away  the  rooks  so  as 
to  afford  a  fine  chance  for  observation;  Let  him  now  re- 
turn and  cross  the  mouth  of  Fall  river  eastward,  following 
up  the  north  bank  of  the  Connecticut,  and  he  will  find 
the  same  red  slate,  cropping  out  about  fifteen  rods,  when  he 
will  come  to  another  ridge  of  greenstone,  wno?er  which  the 
slate  passes.  If  he  follows  the  junction  of  the  rocks  ob- 
liquely up  the  hill,  on  the  east  side  of  Fall  river,  a  hundred 
rods  in  a  northeasterly  direction,  he  will  observe  the  green- 
stone lying  upon  the  slate  more  distiiictly.  Let  him  return 
to  the  bank  of  the  Connecticut,  where  the  sandstone  slate 
passes  under  the  greenstone,  and  he  will  observe  them  both 
extending  in  the  same  manner  into  the  stream.  If  he  now 
go  eastward  along  the  bank  of  the  river,  he  will  find  green- 
stone twenty  rods,  and  then  the  same  or  nearly  the  same 
slate,  rising  on  the  back  of  the  greenstone  at  an  an^le  of 
forty-five  degrees.  Thus  will  he  have  conclusive  evidence 
of  the  alternation  of  these  rocks.  This  alternation,  cross- 
ing this  same  spot,  is  represented  in  the  profile  accompa- 
nying the  map.  No.  8  is  the  first  ridge  of  greenstone  above 
mentioned:  No.  9  the  sandstone  slate,  rising  on  its  back: 
No.  10  the  second  ridge  of  greenstone;  and  No.  11  the 
second  stratum  of  the  slate.  This  second  ridge  of  green- 
stone, as  already  marked,  extends  northeasterly  into  Gill 
and  terminates  Typfhriii^'r,«|t  pflit—'^*^Hip*!'*'fi*^-     ^^  ' 

Another  spot  for  observing  the  alternations  of  greenstone 
and  the  coal  formation  is  one  hundred  rods  south-east  of 
Lyman's  tavern,  on  the  north-east  side  of  Mount  Tom,  in 
Northampton.  A  small  stream  here  crosses  the  road,  and 
in  its  bed  and  banks  several  distinct  beds  of  greenstone, 
some  of  them  not  more  than  one  or  two  inches  thick,  may 
be  observed  at  low  water. 

In  the  southern  part  of  that  extensive  greenstone  ridge  ex- 
tending from  Amherst  to  Meriden,  the  sandstone  of  the 
coal  formation  may  often  be  seen  on  the  west  side  of  the 
greenstone,  lying  underneath  it.  The  shaft  of  the  copper 
mine  at  Newgate  prison  passes  through  the  greenstone  and 
enters  the  sandstone:  and  Dr.  Percival  informs  us  (Jour. 
Sci.  Vol.  5,  p.  42,)  that  in  Southington,  "sometimes  the 
sandstone  can  be  very  distinctly  seen  cropping  out  below 
the  greenstone  on  the  west  side  of  the  ridges."      At  the 

7 


50 


Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut. 


outlet  of  Salstonstall's  pond  in  East-Haven,  I  have  observed 
a  grey  micaceous  sandstone  of  the  coal  formation,  passing 
under  tlie  greenstone  with  a  considerable  dip;  and  also  two 
miles  south  of  Durham  village,  on  the  side  of  the  turnpike 
leading  to  New-Haven. 

Dr.  Percival,  who  has  examined  most  of  the  greenstone 
ranges  in  Connecticut  on  foot,  illustrates  his  views  of  the 
relative  position  of  this  rock  and  the  coal  formation  as  fol- 
lows— referring  particularly  to  the  vicinity  of  Berlin.  As 
you  ascend  the  mountain  ridges  from  the  west,  the  lowest 
lock  you  find,  after  leaving  the  alluvion,  is  the  old  red 
sandstone,  represented  below  by  A.  Above  this  lie  the 
argillaceous  sandstones  of  the  coal  formation,  represented 
by  B.  The  cap  of  the  ridge  C  is  greenstone;  precipitous 
on  the  west  side,  but  gently  sloping  on  the  east.  Passing 
on  we  come  to  another  stratum  of  the  coal  formation;  as 
D.  Next,  perhaps,  siicceeds  another  ridge  of  greenstone, 
E — similar  to  C;  and  on  its  back,  we  fmd  again  the  coal 
formation,  F;  And  sometimes  the  cap  of  greenstone  is  in- 
sulated, as  G. 


Sometimes  we  find  the  greenstone  resting  immediately 
upon  the  old  red  sandstone,  without  the  intervention  of  a 
third  rock  ;  as  at  East  and  West  Rock  near  New-Haven. 

From  all  that  1  have  seen  and  learned  concerning  these 
rocks,  I  feel  therefore,  warranted  in  concluding,  that,  as  a 
general  fact,  our  greenstone  alternates  with,  or  forms  beds 
in,  the  peculiar  rocks  of  the  coal  formation  ;  and  it  seems 
very  probable  that  both  these  repose  upon  the  old  red 
sandstone.  As  the  slates  of  the  coal  formation  dip  below 
the  eastern  horizon,  it  would  seem  we  are  furnished  with 
the  reason  why  the  mural  faces  of  the  greenstone  are  almost 
universally  on  the  western  side  of  the  ranges. 

When  greenstone  rests  on  the  coal  formation,  the  lower 
part  of  the  greenstone  seems  to  consist  of  little  else  than  a 
greyish  black,  indurated,  ferruginous  clay.     Perhaps  even 


Geology,  iS^c.  of  the  Connectiait.  51 

wacke*  may  be  found  lying  between  the  greenstone  and  the 
saiidstone,  as  at  Gallows-Hill  near  Hartford,  and  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Berlin  ranges  of  greenstone.  Some  of  the 
greenstone  occurring  in  the  dykes  of  this  rock  in  old  red 
sandstone,  has  a  similar  aspect.  At  the  junction  of  the 
coal  formation  and  greenstone  below  the  falls  in  Gill,  the 
columnar  tendency  of  the  latter  rock  entirely  disappears, 
and  for  several  feet,  the  greenstone  is  distinctly,  though 
somewhat  irregularly,  stratified;  the  strata  being  parallel 
to  the  sandstone.  This  may  be  seen  to  most  advantage  at 
very  low  water;  and  the  same  may  be  seen,  though  less 
distinctly,  along  the  whole  eastern  border  of  this  range  of 
greenstone  ;  and  something  of  it  on  the  east  side  of  all  the 
greenstone  ranges  along  the  Connecticut.  It  ought  here 
to  be  remarked,  also,  that  (his  rock  appears  quite  diflferent 
in  its  composition  on  the  eastern  side,  especially  of  the 
range  passing  through  Deerfield  and  Greenfield.  The  in- 
durated clay  seems  in  a  great  measure  to  take  the  place  of 
the  hornblende,  and  the  basis  of  the  rock  has  a  wackelike 
appearance.  Much  of  it  is  amygdaloidal;  but  the  imbed- 
ded minerals  are  usually  quite  different.  On  the  east  side, 
the  most  abundant  is  chlorite,  having  a  radiated  aspect,  and 
green  earth  ;  whereas,  on  the  west  side,  this  is  scarcely  to 
be  found.  The  radiated  zeolite  on  the  west  side  is  finely 
fibrous;  on  the  east  side,  the  crystals  are  larger  and  trans- 
parent, resembling  the  Thomsonite  of  Dumbarton  in  Scot- 
land. The  rock  on  the  eastern  side  is,  also,  more  decom- 
posable than  on  the  opposite  side. 

The  eastern  side  of  this  rock  is  not,  however,  all  amyg- 
daloidal. Near  where  Deerfield  river  passes  through  the 
range,  on  the  north  bank,  this  rock  contains  distinct  crys- 
tals, or  rather  plates  of  felspar;  and  thus  becomes  a  porphy- 
ritic  greenstone.  "It  even  approaches  to  ophites,"  says 
Professor  Dewey.  The  same  rock  contains  good  prehnite, 
and  in  the  prehnite  may  be  found  pyritous  copper. 

I  should  judge  that  about  one  half  of  the  greenstone  of 
the  Connecticut  constitutes  the  base  of  amygdaloid,  and 
very  much  of  it  appears  to  be  genuine  toadstone.  The  cavi- 
ties are  usually  spheroidal  or  almond  shaped,  sometimes 
reniform,  and   frequently  cylindric.     Those  of  the    latter 

*I  have  recently  found  icacke  perfectly  well  characterised,  and  very 
abundant,  at  the  foot  of  the  very  lofty  mural  precipices,  two  miles  north 
of  Monte  Video,  on  the  Talcot  mountain,  ten  miles  VV,  of  Hartford. — Editor 


62  Geology,  c^-c.  of  the  Connecticut. 

form  are  often  a  foot  or  more  in  length,  and  arranged  par- 
allel to  one  another;  the  rock  appearing  as  if  bored  through 
repeatedly  by  an  augur.  The  imbedded  minerals  are  cal- 
careous spar,  analcime,  chlorite, quartz,  chalcedony,  chaba- 
sie,  zeolite,  and  Professor  Silliman  has  recently  discovered 
gypsum*  in  a  specimen  sent  him  from  Dr.  Cooley  ;  a  new 
fact  we  believe  in  Geology,  and  one  which  renders  it  not 
improbable  that  this  valuable  mineral  may  be  found  in  abun- 
dance along  the  Connecticut. 

This  amygdaloidal  greenstone  is  probably  most  abundant 
at  the  lower  part  of  the  greenstone  ridges  ;  while  the  upper 
part  is  solid  and  usually  columnar.  Frequently,  however, 
the  columns  are  amygdaloidal  to  their  top,  and  sometimes, 
as  in  Deerfield,  in  passing  in  the  direction  of  the  ridge,  you 
will  find  alternate  successions  of  amygdaloidal  and  solid 
greenstone  columns.  On  breaking  into  the  interior  of  the 
former,  we  often  find  them  a  rich  reservoir  of  rare  miner- 
als. The  cavities  are  usually  small;  but  sometimes  sever- 
al inches  in  diameter,  occupied  by  quartz  and  amethystine 
geodes,  or  chalcedony,  or  agates,  or  a  peculiar  pseudo- 
morphorus  quartz  to  be  described  when  we  come  to  treat 
of  particular  minerals.  The  largest  and  best  agates  occur 
usually  among  the  greenstone  that  is  not  much  amygdaloid- 
al. sometimes  occupying  a  cavity,  part  of  which  is  in  one 
coAumn  and  part  in  another.  They  are  very  frequent,  and 
Sf.  M  of  those  recently  discovered  by  Dr.  D.  Cooley,  in 
Deerfield,  are  probably  the  finest  yet  found  in  this  country. 
A  particular  account  of  them  will  be  given  in  the  proper 
place.  Prehnite  sometimes  forms  a  thin  incrustration  on 
the  columns  that  are  not  amygdaloidal;  and  between  the 
ioinrs  of  those  that  are  so,  is  sometimes  interposed  a  thin 
coatingof  various  minerals, among  which  epidote  frequently 
predominates. 

Some  of  the  amygdaloid  is  very  vescicular,  bearing  some 
resemblance  to  the  slag  of  an  iron  furnace  or  lava.  The 
cavities,  in  certain  rare  varieties,  are  various  in  form  ;  and 
the  base  is  whitish  brown,  reddish,  and  even  brick  red  ; 
containing,  in  the  cavities,  much  prehnite,  and  this  mineral, 
together  with  calcareous  spar,  seems,  in  some  instances,  to 
be  mixed  with  the  greenstone  to  form  the  base.  An  en- 
thusiastic  Huttonian  would  doubtless  be  gratified   to  find 

*This  gypsum  was  perfectly  fresh — crystalized — white,  and  retaining;  its 
water  of  crystalization. — Editor. 


Geology,  i^c.  of  tJie  Connecticut,  53 

such  a  variety.  A  locality  of  it  may  be  found  one  hun- 
dred rods  north  of  the  Deerfield  river  bridge  in  Deerfield. 
at  the  western  foot  of  the  trap  range. 

The  columnar  tendency  of  our  greenstone  has  often  been 
noticed.  It  may  be  seen  in  almost  every  ridge  in  a  great- 
er or  less  degree,  on  the  mural  face — and  these  columns 
are  sometimes  remarkably  regular.  Good  examples  of  them 
occur  on  the  south-west  face  of  Mount  Holyoke  ;  and  still 
better  ones  a  mile  east  of  the  village  of  Deerfield,  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  north  of  the  locality  of  chabasie,analcime,<kc.  men- 
tioned in  the  Jour,  of  Science  Vol.  1.  p.  115.  They  have 
from  three  to  six  sides,  are  articulated,  the  points  varying 
from  one  to  three  feet  in  diameter,  and  of  the  same  height, 
exhibiting  handsome  convexities  and  corresponding  concav- 
ities. Haifa  mile  south  of  this  spot  may  be  seen  columns 
curving  to  the  right  and  left  as  they  ascend  ;  thus  forming 
a  portion  of  an  arch.  The  geologi>t,  who  traverses  this 
ridge,  can  hardly  avoid  traversing  in  imagination  the  giant's 
causeway,  StatTa  and  the  Hebrides. 

Some  of  the  less  perfect  columns  have  a  remarkably  fis- 
sile tendency  ;  forming  good  hand  specimens  of  pseudo- 
green-stone  slate.  Globular  distinct  concretions  of  this 
rock  are  not  unfrequent  among  the  amygdaloid  ;  composed 
of  concentric  coats  of  greater  specific  gravity  than  the  rest 
of  the  rock.  I  have  noticed  them  in  Deerfield,  and  on  the 
New-Haven  turnpike  between  Durham  and  Northford,  they 
are  abundant,  and  from  two  to  twelve  inches  in  diameter. 

The  general  aspect  of  our  greenstone,  where  it  has  been 
long  exposed  to  the  weather,  is  reddish  brown.  When 
newly  broken  it  is  greenish,  often  somewhat  lively.  Some- 
times it  is  greyish  black,  and.  very  rarely,  has  the  color 
of  a  brick  that  has  been  burnt  very  hard.  This  variety  is 
compact  and  the  felsparimperceptible.  It  is  often  the  fact, 
indeed,  that  the  two  ingredients  in  other  varieties,  are  not 
to  be  discovered  by  the  naked  eye.  or  with  an  ordinary  lens. 

A  question  then  occurs,  whether  some  of  the  varieties  of 
this  rock  are  not  genuine  basalt  ?  Certainly  some  of  them 
answer  the  description  of  that  rock,  so  far  as  external  char- 
acters are  concerned,  to  say  the  least,  as  well  as  of  green- 
stone. And,  indeed,  if  "greenstone  and  basalt  may  not 
unfrequently  be  seen  passing  into  each  other  in  the 
same  stone,  as  D'Aubuisson  and  Dolomieu  have  observ- 
ed," (Bakewell's  Geology,  p.    11 9.)  there  seems  no  rea- 


54  Geology,  ci^c.  of  the  Gonntcticut. 

son  to  doubt  that  this  fact  may  exist  in  this  country  as- 
well  as  in  Europe.  Were  I  to  refer  to  particular  locaMties 
for  rocks  resembling  basalt,  I  should  mention  the  foot  of 
Mount  Tom  on  the  north-east  side,  and  a  part  of  the  range 
passing  through  Deerfield.  It  would  not  surprise  me,  should 
future  geologists  make  a  division  of  our  greenstone,  calling 
a  part  of  it  basalt;  dividing  the  upper  part  of  theridges  from 
the  lower,  or  the  eastern  side  from  the  western,  or  both. 
A  geologist,  to  be  able  satisfactorily  to  make  these  divi- 
sions, or  to  decide  whether  any  of  our  rock  is  basalt,  ought 
to  have  traversed  extensively  and  observed  minutely  the  like 
rocks  in  Europe ;  and,  therefore,  I  leave  the  subject  to 
abler  hands. 

A  good  locality  for  observing  many  of  the  varieties  of 
greenstone  above  described  within  a  narrow  compass,  is  on 
the  north  bank  of  Deerfield  river,  about  sixty  rods  from  the 
bridge.  Let  a  person  cross  the  bridge  to  the  north,  and 
take  the  right  hand  road,  until  he  comes  to  where  the  road 
passes  round  the  end  of  the  greenstone  ridge.  Here  he 
will  first  see  the  most  common  variety,  having  a  columnar 
tendency  ;  and  a  few  rods  beyond,  the  reddish  brown  vari- 
ety,* and  in  a  wall,  supporting  the  road  on  the  right  hand, 
he  will  find  abundance  of  the  porphyritic  greenstone,  hav- 
ing a  somewhat  stratified  structure.  Here,  too,  he  will 
find  some  specimens  covered  with  a  ferruginous  coating  ; 
so  much  charged  with  iron,  indeed,  that  efforts  have  been 
made  to  smelt  it.  Indeed,  a  mass  of  four  or  five  pounds 
from  almost  any  part  of  this  greenstone  range,  when  held 
by  the  side  of  a  compass,  will  move  the  needle. 

It  is  not  always  the  case,  nor  even  generally,  that  the 
greenstone  ridges  that  are  marked  as  continuous  on  the 
map,  are  strictly  so.  They  are  often  composed  of  numer- 
ous peaks  or  ridges,  partially  detached,  but  yet  constitu- 
ting a  single  range  when  viewed  at  their  bases.  And  some- 
times, when  there  appears  to  an  observer  passing  along  the 
western  side  of  the  range  to  be  an  uninterrupted  wall,  clos- 
er examination  will  show,  that  it  is  made  up  of  several  dis- 
tinct ridges,  so  lapping  on  upon  each  other,  and  so  near  one 
another,  that  they  appear  continuous.  The  mural  face  of 
the  ridges  and  hillocks  is  usually  on  their  western  side  ; 
but  sometimes  on  the  opposite  side,  as  in  the   high  moun- 

*I  have  a  specimen  of  greenstone  from  a  vein  in  Scotland  resembling  this, 
except  that  the  Scottish  rock  is  much  coarser. 


Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut.  55 

tain  between  Durham  and  Northford ;  and  sometimes  on 
both  sides,  as  Menitick  mountain  in  Granby,  Ct.  Mount 
Carmei  in  Hamden,  and  Mount  Tom  in  East-Hampton,  at 
its  southern  extremity.  The  broken  frau;ments  of  the  green- 
stone, of  almost  every  shape,  seldom  of  any  regular  figure, 
and  of  various  sizes,  usually  slope  up  more  than  half  the 
distance  from  the  bottom  to  the  top  of  the  ledge.  This 
debris  is  highly  interesting  to  the  chronologist,  because  it 
furnishes  him  with  a  decisive 

Cosmogonical  Chronometer. 

Every  one  who  lives  in  the  vicinity  of  these  greenstone 
ridges  knows,  that  every  year  adds  to  the  loose  masses  at 
their  base,  at  the  expense  of  the  columns  above.  The  wa- 
ter infiltrated  through  the  thin  soil  on  their  tops,  finds  its 
way  into  the  narrow  seams  between  the  columns,  and  there 
freezes  in  the  winter,  and  by  its  expansion,  removes  the 
rock  a  little  from  its  place.  This  operation  is  repeated, 
year  after  year,  and  thus  some  part  of  the  rock  is  pushed 
so  far  over  the  precipice  that  its  center  of  gravity  falls 
without  the  base,  and  it  comes  thundering  down,  usually 
dividing  into  very  many  pieces.  Sometimes,  if  the  foot  of 
a  column  gives  way  in  this  manner,  the  whole  column 
above,  perhaps  twenty  or  thirty  feet  long,  is  precipita- 
ted, like  a  glacier,  on  the  loose  rocks  below.  Sometimes 
only  one  or  two  of  the  lower  joints  fall  out,  leaving  the 
principal  part  of  the  column  suspended,  the  shuddering  ob- 
server can  hardly  tell  by  what.  He  will  also  see  evidences 
in  very  many  places,  both  in  the  ledge  above  him  and  in 
the  ruins  beneath   them,   of  recent  instances  of  this  kind,     yv  '~7l 

Indeed,  in  almost  any  place  along  these  mural  ^mIi^,  two     /P^^"^""^*^ 
or  three  of  the  outer  columns   are  easily  removed  by  the  0 
application  of  a  lever,  being  loosened  by  the  ice  of  preced- 
ing winters.* 

Now  every  one  must  see  that  this  levelling  work  cannot 
have  been  going  on  forever ;  and  when  we  consider  how 

*On  tearing  down  some  of  these  columns  a  few  years  since,  during;  the 
winter,  in  search  of  chabasie,  &c.  I  found  the  spaces  between  them  occupi- 
ed by  an  immense  swarm  of  the  common  musquilo.  Poor  insects  I  it  was 
all  over  with  them  as  soon  as  the  avalanche  thundered.  The  Hon.  Elihu 
Hoyt  informs  me  he  found  a  swarm  of  these  creatures  in  the  winter,  in  a 
hollow  tree. 


56  Geology,  4'c.  of  the  Connecticut. 

very  considerable  is  the  quantity  of  rock  yearly  detached, 
and  compare  this  with  the  whole  annount  of  the  debris,  the 
conclusion  forces  itself  upon  us  that  the  period  when  this 
process  began  could  not  have  been  vastly  renriote  ;  in  oth- 
er words,  that  the  earth  has  not  existed  in  its  present  form 
from  eternity.  Its  precise  age  cannot,  indeed,  be  deter- 
mined by  this  chronometer ;  but  I  have  often  thought  that, 
judging  from  this  alone,  we  should  be  led  to  conclude  that 
Moses  placed  the  date  of  the  creation  too  far  back,  rather 
than  not  far  enough. 

Greenstone  Dykes  in  Old  Red  Sandstone. 

Professor  Silliman  conducted  me  to  an  interesting  locali- 
ty of  these  in  East-Haven.  They  occur  on  the  main  road 
from  New-Haven  to  East-Haven,  less  than  half  a  mile  from 
Tomlinson's  bridge.  We  measured  their  width,  and  that 
of  the  intervening  sandstone,  as  they  appear  on  the  north- 
easterly side  of  the  road.  The  road  here  passes  over  a 
small  eminence,  and  the  bank,  on  the  north  side,  in  its  high- 
est part,  is  almost  fifteen  or  twenty  feet  above  the  road. 
The  dykes,  occurring  at  this  place,  are  exhibited  on  the  pro- 
file accompanying  the  map;  and  are  laid  down  from  a  scale 
of  fifty  feet  to  an  inch,  with  the  intervening  sandstone.  In 
describing  them  1  shall  begin  at  the  north  western  extremity, 
that  is,  at  the  point  nearest  New-Haven :  but  a  person  wish- 
ing to  find  them,  will  do  best  to  go  first  to  the  other  end  of 
the  profile  ;  because  the  dikes  are  there  more  distinct. 

No.  1.   (See  Profile.)  Old  red  sandstone,  coarse  and  con- 
taining pebbles  so  as  to  form  a  conglomerate.     The  dip  of 
.,    the  strata  is  from  6°  to  10°  below  the  eastern  horizon.     The 
t.    sandstdfc^**!'^  very  similar  throughout. 
^       No.  2.  Greenstone  dike,  4  feet  thick. 

No.  3.  Sandstone,  114  feet.  This  distance  was  measur- 
ed by  pacing ;  the  other  distance  by  a  rule. 

No.  4.   Greenstone,  one  foot  thick. 

No.  5.  Sandstone,  9  feet. 

No.  6.   Greenstone,  9  feet. 

No.  7.  Sandstone,  40  feet. 

No.  8.  Greenstone,  10  feet.  The  soil  has  so  covered  this 
spot,  and  we  having  nothing  with  which  to  penetrate  it,  we 
did  not  actually  see  the  dike.     But  the  walls  are  distinct, 


Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut.  ,    57 

having  small  peices  of  the  greenstone  attached  to  them,  and 
exhibiting  somewhat  of  an  altered  appearance,  like  the  oth- 
er walls,  so  that  little  doubt  could  remain  of  this  being  a  gen- 
uine dike. 

No.  9.  Sandstone,  52  feet. 

No.  10.   Greenstone,  5  feet. 

No.  11.  Sandstone,  45  feet. 

No.  12.  Greenstone,  10  feet. 

No.  13.  Sandstone,  19  feet. 

No.  14.  Greenstone,  7  feet. 

No.  15.   Sandstone,  7  feet. 

No.  16.  Greenstone,  4  feet.  Here  the  greenstone  is  hid 
by  the  soil  as  is  also  the  sandstone  at  the  other  end  of  the 
profile  :  so  that  by  removing  this,  probably  other  dikes 
might  be  discovered. 

Thus  we  have  eight  dikes  in  a  distance  of  21  rods.  Some 
of  them  require  a  little  attention  to  discover  them ;  but 
most  of  them  arc  very  distinct.  Some  of  them  we  traced 
several  rods  on  both  sides  of  the  road,  in  a  direction  per- 
pendicular to  the  profile.  Their  width  is  sometimes  sud- 
denly decreased,  or  increased,  several  inches,  so  as  to  form 
shoulders.  They  are  not  exactly  perpendicular,  but  lean  a 
iew  degrees  to  the  west;  and  thus  they  are  made  to  form 
an  angle  considerably  obtuse  on  their  eastern  side  with  the 
sandstone.  The  latter  rock  is  often  somewhat  glazed,  hav- 
ing|a  specular  aspect  at  the  place  of  junction  with  the  green- 
stone, and  the  two  rocks  are  not  unfrequently  mutually  im- 
pregnated, for  several  inches,  with  each  other's  properties. 

I  did  not  notice  that  the  dikes  at  this  place  dislocate  the 
strata  of  sandstone:  but  I  paid  little  attention  to  this  point. 

Several  dikes,  similar  to  the  above,  (three  at  least,)  occur 
in  the  old  red  sandstone  on  the  right  hand  side  of  the  turn- 
pike from  New-Haven  to  Middletown,  on  the  east  margin  of 
the  salt  marsh  lying  east  of  East  Rock.  One  of  these  Is 
remarkably  distinct,  cutting  through  a  precipice  twenty  or 
thirty  feet  high,  and  maintaining  an  uniform  width  of  about 
a  foot.  This  crosses  the  strata  nearly  at  right  angles;  but 
makes  an  angle  with  the  horizon  of  about  45°  dipping  to  the 
south  west.  On  its  roof,  or  upper  side,  near  the  lower  ex- 
tremity, a  part  of  the  sandstone  strata  are  thrown  upwards 
two  or  three  feet ;  and  they  are  affected  laterally  about  the 

8 


58  Geoiogij,  i^c.  of  tilt  Connecticut. 

same  distance.  The  dike  along  with  the  sandstone  appears 
to  pass  under  a  bill  of  gieenstone. 

On  the  same  turnpike,  a  few  rods  north-easterly  of  North- 
ford  meeting-house,  four  or  five  dikes  occur;  but  ihey  are 
so  bidden  by  the  soil  as  not  to  be  particularly  instructive. 
Inpassiiigfrom  Durham  to  New-Haven  on  the  same  road,  the 
first  low  ridge  of  greenstone,  which  we  cross,  exhibits  some- 
thing, which  I  was  almost  disposed  to  denominate  a  dike  of 
coarse  pudding  stone,  of  the  coal  formation,  in  greenstone. 
Certainly,  there  appears  a  peculiar  juxtaposition  of  the  two 
rocks;  but  probably  they  exist  in  beds. 

Two  or  three  miles  north  of  the  dikes  of  which  a  profile 
is  given,  Dr.  Percival  found  several  others;  and  perhaps 
ihey  are  a  continuation  of  the  same.  He  found  one  also  on 
the  road  from  Farmington  to  Hartford  in  the  rocks  of  the  coal 
formation. 

The  greenstone  found  in  these  dikes  has  usually  the  dark 
compact  aspect  of  basalt — resembling,  however,  much  of 
the  greenstone  found  along  the  Connecticut.  Yet  it  seems  to 
want  the  characteristics  of  greenstone,  and  specimens  which  I 
collected  from  the  most  perfect  dike  above  described,  half  a 
mile  east  of  East  Rock,  even  approach  towacke.  This  rock 
gives  an  argillaceous  odoiu",  is  of  a  greenish  grey  color,  has 
an  uneven  fracture,  is  dull,  and  much  softer  than  common 
greenstone ;  so  that  it  may  be  cut  with  a  knife : — and  on  com- 
parison with  a  specimen  of  pure  wacke  from  Calton  Hill,  (Ed- 
inburgh,) which  was  analyzed  by  Dr.  V\  ebster,  it  does  not  ap- 
pear to  differ,  except  in  its  greater  hardness  and  perhaps  less 
softness  to  the  touch.  I  have  little  doubt  that  these  dikes  will 
ere  long  be  denominated  basaltic  dikes :  but,  for  the  reason 
formerly  alleged,  I  forbear  to  name  them  thus.  They  are 
an  interesting  feature  in  our  geology,  and  deserve  more  at- 
tention ;  and  it  is  peculiarly  fortunate  that  they  should  be 
situated  so  near  a  geological  school  and  the  first  mineral  cab- 
inet in  our  country. 

Juxtaposition  of  Secondary  Greenstone  and  Primitive  Rocks. 

The  actual  contact  of  these  has  never  been  observed 
along  the  Connecticut;  and  I  know  of  but  three  places 
where  there  is  a  probability  of  finding  the  junction — viz.  in 
the  northeast  part  of  Belchertown,  in  East-Haven  and  Bran- 


Geology,  <J-c.  of  the  Connecticut.  59 

ford,  and  in  the  east  part  of  Woodbridge.  So  far  as  I  have 
examined  these  places,  I  have  always  found  a  valley  ofgeest 
between  the  rocks.  But  this  is  often  very  narrow;  as  for  ex 
ample  half  a  mile  west  of  Branford  meeting-house,  where 
granitic  ledges  lie  on  one  side  of  the  road  and  a  greenstone 
ridge  on  the  other.  'Further  examination  of  this  and 
the  other  points  mentioned  above,  might  discover  associa- 
tions similar  to  those  occurring  in  the  Hebrides. 

Origin  of  Greenstone. 

Does  the  greenstone  of  the  Connecticut  afford  evidence 
in  favour  of  the  Wernerian  or  of  the  Huttonian  theory  of  its 
origin?  Averse  as  I  feel  to  taking  a  side  in  this  controversy, 
I  cannot  but  say,  that  the  man  who  maintains,  in  its  length 
and  breadth,  the  original  hypothesis  of  Werner  in  regard  to 
the  aqueous  deposition  of  trap,  vt^ill  find  it  for  his  interest,  if 
he  wishes  to  keep  clear  of  doubts,  not  to  follow  the  example 
of  D'Aubuisson,  by  going  forth  to  examine  the  greenstone 
of  this  region,  lest,  like  that  geologist,  he  should  be  compel- 
led, not  only  to  abandon  his  theory,  but  to  v/rite  a  book 
against  it.  Indeed,  when  surveying  particular  portions  of 
this  rock,  I  have  sometimes  thought  Bakewell  did  not  much 
exaggerate  when  he  said  in  regard  to  Werner's  hypothesis, 
that,  "it  is  hardly  possible  for  the  human  mind  to  invent  a 
system  more  repugnant  to  existing  facts." 

On  the  other  hand,  the  Huttonian  would  doubtless  have 
his  heart  gladdened,  and  his  faith  strengthened  by  a  survey 
of  the  greater  part  of  this  rock.  As  he  looked  at  the  dikes 
in  the  old  red  sandstone,  he  would  almost  see  the  melted 
rock  forcing  its  way  through  the  fissures;  and  when  he  came 
to  the  amygdaloidal,  especially  to  that  variety  which  resem- 
bles lava,  he  might  even  be  tempted  to  apply  his  thermom- 
eter to  it,  in  the  suspicion  that  it  was  not  yet  quite  cool.  And 
without  doubt  he  would  see  many  a  volcanic  crater  on  the 
top  of  these  ranges,  where,  with  our  dull  eyes,  we  see  only 
a  pond  or  a  quagmire.  Even  the  occurrence  of  this  green- 
stone in  beds  in  sandstone  would  present  no  obstacle,  since 
the  discoveries  by  Dr.  Macculloch  in  the  isle  of  Skye  of 
similar  beds,  of  whin  stone;  concerning  which  he  says, 
"there  are  no  instances  but  where  the  alternating  beds  of 
trap  detach  veins  or  dikes  from  the  lower  to  the  upper  beds; 


GO  Geolngy,  <^-c.  of  the  Connecticut^ 

or  the  trap,  quitting  the  interval  between  two  given  beda 
of  limestone  or  sandstone,  makes  its  way  across  the  one 
immediately  above  or  below,  and  then  proceeds  with  a  reg- 
ularity as  great  between  some  other  pair  of  proximate 
strata"*  (Transac.  Geol.  Soc.  Vols.  3  and  4.) 

By  treating  the  subject  in  this  manner  I  mean  no  disre- 
spect to  any  of  the  distinguished  men  who  have  adopt- 
ed either  side  of  this  question.  To  President  Cooper  es- 
pecially, who  regards  the  greenstone  of  the  Connecticut  as 
volcanic,  I  feel  much  indebted  for  the  great  mass  of  facts  he 
has  collected  on  the  subject.  And  were  1  to  adopt  any  hypoth- 
esis in  regard  to  the  origin  of  our  greenstone,  it  would  be  one 
not  much  different  from  his.  But  I  confess  myself  somewhat 
given  to  scepticism  in  regard  to  any  general  geological  sys- 
tem extant;  and  Greenough  on  the  First  Principles  of  Ge- 
ology has  not  aided  much  to  remove  my  doubts.  These 
systems  have  been  productive  of  great  good  by  spurring  for- 
ward geologists  to  the  collection  of  facts  with  a  rapidity  al- 
most unequalled  in  any  other  science.  When  these  shall 
be  still  farther  accumulated,  it  is  hoped  and  may  be  expect- 
ed, that  a  second  Werner  will  arise,  who,  having  not  merely 
the  rocks  of  Germany  but  of  the  whole  world  before  him, 
and  following  the  inductive  method  of  Bacon,  will  be  able 
to  construct  a  system  of  geognosy  that  will  stand,  like  the 
Newtonian  system  of  gravitation,  on  a  foundation  too  firm  to 
be  moved.  Perhaps  such  a  system,  after  all,  will  prove 
to  bean  amalgamation  of  the  theories  of  Werner  and  Hutton, 
and  those  names,  which  now  form  the  watch  words  of  op- 
posing ranks,  may  descend  to  posterity,  engraven  side  by 
side,  in  harmonious  union,  on  the  column  that  supports  the 
system.  If  geological  enquiries  are  not  tending  to  this  point 
we  are  much  mistaken. 

President  Cooper  was  led  from  the  profile  inserted  in  the 
first  Vol.  of  the  Journal  of  Science,  page  105,  to  conclude, 
the  Deerfield  greenstone  to  be  a  dike  disrupting  the  old  red 
sandstone.  No  distinction  is  there  made  between  the  sand- 
stone of  the  east  and  west  range  ;  but  since  I  have  ascertain- 
ed that  on  the  one  side  is  old  red  sandstone  and  on  the  oth- 

*  It  is  by  no  means  improbable  that  similar  connecting  dikes  may  be 
found  between  the  greenstone  beds  along  the  Connecticut.  In  all  the  places 
■where  I  have  examined  these  beds,  circumstances  were  unfavourable  for 
discovering  the  dikes  had  they  existed. 


Geology,  ^-c.  of  the  Connecticut.  61 

er  a  sandstone  of  the  coal  formation,  this  greenstone  must 
be  regarded  as  a  bed  between  them.* 

14.  Coal  Formation. 

Vuridij  of  Psammile.     Brongniart. 

Grey  Wacke  Slate.     Eaton. 

Colored  brown  by  Umber. 

It  has  long  been  known  to  mineralogists  that  coal  was 
found  along  the  Connecticut ;  and  I  denominate  the  rocks 
containing  it  the  coal  formation,  simply  because  its  beds 
occur  in  them,  and  in  no  other  rock;  the  old  red  sandstone 
containing  none  at  all,  but  lying  beloio  it.  The  coal  forma- 
tion embraces  numerous  varieties  and  sub-varieties  of  rocks, 
most  of  which  alternate  with  one  another  and  the  principal 
of  which  are  the  following.  1.  Greenstone.  This  strictly 
belongs  to  this  class  because  it  alternates  with  the  other  va- 
rieties and  in  Berlin  contains  coal.  But  there  werp  suffi- 
cient reasons  for  giving  it  a  separate  color  and  description, 
which  it  is  unnecessary  here  to  mention.  2.  Trap.  Tuff. 
{Trap  Breccia,  Cleaveland.)  This  occurs  on  the  east  side  of 
Mount  Tom  on  the  w^est  bank  of  Connecticut  river,  and  ap- 
pears to  lie  between  other  rocks  of  the  coal  formation  and 
the  greenstone,  and  perhaps  alternates  with  the  greenstone  ; 
though  I  cannot  say  much  as  to  its  geological  relations,  as  I 
have  but  recently  discovered  the  rock  and  have  had  little  op- 
portunity to  examine  it.  It  consists  of  rounded  or  angular 
fragments  of  greenstone,  quartz  and  sandstone,  united  by 
a  reddish  brown  abundant  cement  of  comminuted  and  de- 
composed sandstone,  greenstone  or  wacke.  Scales  of  mica 
appear  scattered  in  the  rock  which  seem  to  have  belonged  to 
the  sandstone.  It  exhales  an  argillaceous  odour,  is  difficult  to 
break,  and  is  about  of  the  hardness  of  old  red  sandstone.  The 
imbedded  masses  of  greenstone  are  larger  than  the  quartz 
or  sandstone.  I  noticed  some,  six,  eight, and  even  twelve  inch- 
es across.  Perhaps  this  rock  is  not  the  real  trap  tuff  of  Eu- 
rope. If  not,  it  certainly  deserves  the  name  of  greenstone 
conglomerate:  although  many  of  the  imbedded  masses  and 

*  Some  other  corrections  needed  to  be  made  in  tlie  essay  accompanying 
that  profile  and  map.  But  as  I  intend  to  comprehend  all  that  is  important 
in  that  paper  in  this  Sketch,  a  particular  specification  of  corrections  seema 
unnecessary. 


62  Geology,  ^c.  of  the  ConnecticuL 

the  greenstone  in  the  vicinity  very  much  resemble  basalt. 
The  sandstone  imbedded  is  that  fine-grained  argillaceous 
variety  next  to  be  mentioned.  3.  ^  red,  very  dssWe,  friable, 
argillaceorts  sandstone.  It  generally  contains  small  scales  of  mi- 
ca and  isabundantalmostevery  where,  frequently  lying  imme- 
diately upon  the  greenstone  and  alternating  with  it  and  with  ma- 
ny other  varieties  of  rock  hereafter  to  be  mentioned.  4.  Jl 
Gray  Micaceous  Sandstone  Slale,  not  argillaceous,  grit  coarse, 
very  fissile,  layers  even,  some  varieties  much  resembling 
mica  slate,  others  containing  vegetable  remains.  5.  A  simi- 
larslatc;  but  much  finer,  harder  and  the  layers  undulating.  6. 
A  slate  approaching  in  appearance  to  shale,  but  very  silicious, 
harder  and  very  fissile,  layers  straight,  surface  not  smooth, 
dark  gray.  7.  SAa/e,  generally  bituminous,veryfissile,  frequent- 
ly micaceous  with  and  without  Ichthyolites.  8.  A  slaty  rock  of 
the  aspect  of  shale,  and  sometimes  much  resembling  coal, 
dividing  into  numerous  small  pieces  of  irregular  form,  and 
disintegrating  when  exposed  to  the  air  and  moisture.  At 
the  falls  in  Gill.  9.  A  slate  made  up  chiefly  of  indurated 
clay,  sometimes  micaceous,  easily  scratched  by  the  finger  nail, 
liable  to  disintegration.  Falls  in  Gill,  and  cave  in  Sunder- 
land, not  abundant.  lO.  A  fragmented  rock,  the  fragments 
chiefly  a  reddish  brown  quartz,  appearing  as  if  burnt,  ce- 
ment silicious  and  apparently  ferruginous,  rock  very  hard, 
and  appearing  almost  like  porphyry,  unstratified,  not  abun- 
dant. In  Gill.  11.  Gray  pudding-stone,  distinctly  stratifi- 
ed, layers  from  six  inches  to  a  foot  thick.  Imbedded  nod- 
ules, quartz,  felspar  and  mica  slate,  rarely  more  than  an  inch 
in  diameter,  but  very  abundant,  cement  same  minerals  com- 
minuted. Island  in  the  falls  at  Gill.  12.  Reddish  stratified 
pudding-stone,  coarser  than  the  last,  and  scarcely  differing 
from  the  conglomerate  accompanying  the  old  red  sandstone. 
Mount  Toby,  Belchertown  and  Gran  by.  13.  Very  coarse 
dark  gray  pudding-stone,  scarcely  stratified.  Imbedded 
masses  often  very  large,  even  a  foot  in  diameter,  and  very 
abundant,  consisting  chiefly  of  mica  slate,  argillite  and  chlo- 
rite^slate;  but  containing  quartz,  hornblende,  talcose  slate, 
and  sometimes  granite,  cement  the  same  rocks  comminuted. 
Gill,  Montague,  Mount  Toby,  and  Durham.  Most  of  the 
preceding  rocks  are  often  found  alternating  with  one  anoth- 
er. 14.  Jl  gray  imperfect  limestone,  very  silicious,  in  beds 
in  sandstone  slate,  not  fetid,  not  abundant,  Gill.     15.  Fetid 


Geology^  ^c,  of  the  Connecticut.  63 

carbonate  of  lime.  At  Northford.  I  do  not  know  its  exact 
relative  situation.  16.  ^Bituminous  carbonate  of  lime,  in  tiie. 
coal  formation  at  Southington  and  Middletown. 

In  tiiis  series  of  rocks,  and  in  this  only,  has  coal  been 
found  along  the  Connecticut.  It  occurs  at  Durham,  Mid- 
dletown, Chatham,  Southington,  Berlin,  Somers,  Ellington, 
Enfield,  South  Hadley,  and  Southampton.  In  most  instan- 
ces it  is  hi^ihly  bituminous  and  burns  freely.  The  seams  of 
it  are  usually  quite  thin,  rarely  exceeding  an  inch  in  thick- 
ness, yet  often  they  are  numerous.  In  Berlin,  the  coal  oc- 
curs in  greenstone  in  a  vein  of  crystallized  quartz.  (Journal 
of  Science,  Vol.  5,  p.  44.)  In  Southington  it  is  found  in 
shale — in  Somers,  Ellington  and  Suffield,  in  friable  argillace- 
ous slate,  (No.  3  above)  in  Enfield,  in  beds  in  gray  micaceous 
sandstone;  (No.  4.  above)  also  in  the  same  rock,  ("granu- 
lated schistose  aggregate"  of  Eaton,  vide  Journal  of  Science. 
Vol.  1.  p.  136,)  in  the  drift  of  the  S.  Hampton  lead  mine. 

The  Connecticut  river,  in  its  passage  between  the  town? 
of  Gill  and  Montague,  has  cut  through  the  coal  formation, 
except  a  single  ridge  of  greenstone  on  the  west,  as  may  be  seen 
by  referring  to  the  map.  Through  a  considerable  part  of  this 
distance,  especially  in  the  most  in  terestingpart,the  bassetting 
of  the  strata  is  completely  laid  bare;  and  I  have  annexed  to 
the  map  a  profile  of  their  order  and  dip,  which  I  shall  now 
proceed  to  describe.  It  is  a  vertical  section,  crossing  the 
map  at  the  falls  in  Gill  and  the  strata  nearly  at  right  angles, 
extending  on  the  west  to  the  western  part  of  Shelburne,  sd 
as  to  include  a  few  other  rocks  beside  the  coal  formation, 
and  on  the  east,  to  the  mouth  of  Miller's  river.  The  chief 
object  of  this  profile  is  to  give  a  better  idea  of  the  coal  for- 
mation than  could  be  obtained  by  mere  verbal  description. 
That  part  of  it,  therefore  embracing  those  rocks,  is  put  down 
from  a  larger  scale  than  the  other  parts,  otherwise  the  nu- 
merous alternations  could  not  have  been  represented.  Es- 
pecially that  part  between  No.  8  and  40,  is  laid  down  from 
a  larger  scale  than  the  rest  of  the  coal  formation,  because 
this  is  the  most  interesting  part  of  it  and  most  distinctly  laid 
bare  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Connecticut,  extending 
from  the  falls  to  the  high  greenstone  ridge  100  rods  west  of 
it.  This  part  was  observed  most  attentively,  and  a  quadrant 
converted  into  a  clinometer,  was  used  for  determining  the 

*  Bituminous  marl  slate? — £rf 


64  Geology^  ^t'*  of  the,  Cowieclkul. 

dip.  The  distances  were  all  estimated  by  the  eye,  but  it  is 
presumed  they  will  in  general  be  found  not  far  from  the  truth. 
From  No.  I  to  56,  inclusive,  the  stratified  rocks  all  dip  to 
the  east,  as  is  evident  from  the  section.  The  Nos.  included 
in  parenthesis,  refer  to  the  general  descriptions  of  the  rocks 
of  the  coal  formation  in  the  beginning  of  the  article. 

No.  1.  Horblende  Slate — Strata  highly  inclined,  often  be- 
coming an  aggregate  of  hornblende,  quartz  and  mica,  having 
a  porphyritic  aspect. 

No.  2.  Mica  <S7flfe— Dip  20°  to  30°,  undulating  and  tor- 
tuous, passing  on  the  east  into  argillite. 

No.  3.  Limestone — In  beds  in  mica  slate,  already  descri- 
bed in  the  preceding  pages.     Unstratified. 

No.  4.  Argillite— D\p  60°  to  90°.  The  southern  limit  of 
this  rock  hardly  reaches  the  line  of  the  section  :  but  a  mile  or 
two  north,  its  relative  position  is  as  represented  on  the  profile. 

No.  5.  Old  Red  Sandstone — With  red  conglomerate.  Dip 
usually  asmuch  as  20°,beinggreaterthanis  usual  for  this  rock. 

No.  6.  Alluvion — A  swamp. 

No.  7.    Old  Red  Sandstone — Dip  between  20°  and  30°. 

No.  8.  Secondary  Greenstone — It  is  probable  this  forms 
a  bed  between  the  old  red  sandstone  and  the  coal  formation  : 
but  the  former  rock  is  never  seen  passing;  under  it  in  this  vi- 
cinity ;  and,  therefore,  it  must  not  be  thus  represented  on 
the  profile.  Width  about  half  a  mile.  On  the  eastern  side  it 
has,  for  a  few  feet  in  width,  somewhat  of  a  stratified  structure. 

No.  9.  Red,  Fissile,  Friable,  Argillaceous,  Sandstone, 
Slate — (No.  3.)  It  is  fine  grained  and  often  micaceous,  of 
the  color  of  brick,  is  easily  cut  by  a  knife,  yields  an  argilla- 
ceous odour,  has  an  undulating  surface  generally,  and  is  liable 
to  disintegration.  This  is  probably  the  most  abundant  of 
the  rocks  of  the  coal  formation;  and  it  usually  lies  next  to 
tile  greenstone  and  alternates  with  it.  It  is  found  over  a 
large  extent  of  country  on  the  east  side  of  the  greenstone 
ridge,  stretching  from  Amherst  to  Berlin;  although  in  Con- 
necticut it  more  frequently  is  wanting  in  the  mica  and  its 
surface  is  more  uneven.  It  forms  much  of  the  flagging 
stone  in  Hartford  and  exists  in  place  a  foot  or  two  below  the 
surface  in  that  city;  though  it  seems  here  in  some  instances 
to  approach  to  the  nature  of  shale.  The  surface  of  the  lay- 
ers often  appears  a  little  glazed  and  is  sometimes  traversed 
by  numerous  little  ridges  a  mere  line  in  thicknes  and  of  the 


Geology,  ^/-c.  of  the  Connecticut^  6§ 

oubstance  of  the  rock,  which  I  have  sometimes  suspected 
might  be  petrifactions  ;  and  perhaps  they  are  so.  When 
this  rock  is  disintegrated  it  forms  an  admirable  material  for 
the  construction  of  roads;  a  good  example  of  which  m^y  be 
seen  In  the  road  between  Hartford  and  VVeathersfield 

Where  the  profile  crosses  this  rock,  it  has  a  dip  of  45°  ; 
and  as  already  observed  under  the  article  greenstone,  it 
here  mounts  upon  the  back  of  the  greenstone  forty  or  fifty 
feet.  If  we  follow  the  junction  of  these  rocks  southerly,  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  Connecticut,  we  shall  find  the  slate  con- 
forming to  the  irregularities  of  the  greenstone,  thus  forming 
saddle  shaped  strata.  In  some  instances  we  notice  a  sudden 
curve  from  this  cause,  of  90°.  At  the  first  copper  mine  we  find 
on  passing  down  the  river,  a  narrovvspur  of  the  greenstone  ex- 
tends a  short  distance  into  the  slate,  and  the  vein  of  ore  here 
passes  from  the  greenstone  into  slate.  Haifa  mile  south  of 
this  point  we  find  the  slate  crossed  obliquely  to  the  direction 
of  the  strata  by  parallel  seams  dividing  it  into  strips  from  one 
to  six  inches  wide  and  often  five  feet  long.  Sometimes  we  find 
in  these  divisions  six  sided  prisms  of  quartz,  lying  partially 
imbedded  and  exhibiting  both  terminations  in  great  perfec- 
tion. I  have  seen  seams  very  narrow  containing  green  car- 
bonate of  copper,  the  sides  of  the  vein  being  beautifidly  gla- 
zed, having  a  highly  specidar  aspect,  and  forming  the  saal- 
hande  of  the  Germans.  The  width  of  the  rock  on  the  sec- 
tion is  about  fifteen  rods,  extending  across  the  mouth  of  Fall 
river. 

No.  10.  Greenstone — (No.  1.)  This  has  been  already 
described  when  treating  of  that  rock.  Thickness  of  the  for- 
mation, 20  rods. 

No.  11.  Same  as  No.  9.  (No.  3.)  Thickness  of  the  stra- 
tum, 6  rods,  dip  45°. 

No.  12.  Red  Slate — resembles  the  last,  but  is  more  mi- 
caceous, is  divisible  into  thinner  laminse,  the  surface  of  which 
is  even,  and  the  color  is  less  red.  A  beautiful  rock.  Thick- 
ness 6  fet't,  dip  45°. 

No.  13.  Reddish  micaceons sandstone-Somewlmt  con^^ om- 
eraled,  the  imbedded  pebbles  of  quartz  and  flesh  colored  fel- 
spar, small  and  rounded,  less  fissile  than  the  last,  layers 
thicker.     Thickness  twelve  feet,  dip  40°. 

No.  14.  Same  as  No.  12.  Thickness  15  feet,  dip  40°. 

No.  15.  Same  as  No.  9.     Thickness  15  rods,  dip  40° 

9 


6t)  Geology,  <^c.  of  the  ConnecticuL 

No.  16.  Reddish  gray,  friable,  argillaceous  sandstone 
slate — Irregular,  tortuous,  disintegrating  at  the  surface,  a  lit- 
tle micaceous,  containing  numerous  small  specks  of  carbon- 
ate of  copper,  and  appearing  to  be  an  imperfect  copper  ore- 
Thickness  4  feet,  dip  40° 

No.  17.  Hard,  compact  limestone — (No.  14.)  Fracture 
dull,  containing  a  large  proportion  of  silex,  feebly  efferves- 
cing with  the  acids.  Thickness  of  the  stratum  only  a  foot, 
dip  48°,  not  divisible  into  layers  This  very  imperfect  and 
small  bed  of  limestone  is  the  only  locality  of  limestone  rock 
I  have  ever  found  in  the  secondary  region  north  of  Hartford. 

No.  IS.  Gray,  Micaceous  sandstone  slate — (No.  5.)  Ir- 
regular, tortuous  and  undulating,  not  as  easily  and  as  hand- 
somely separating  into  layers  as  the  red  slate,  resembling 
some  varieties  of  the  mica  slate,  scarcely  argillaceous. 
Thickness  6  feet,  dip  40°. 

No.  19.  Same  as  No.  9.  Thickness  12  rods,  dip,  43°. 

No.  20.  Coarse,  reddish  conglomerated  sandstone — Con- 
taining imbedded  pebbles.  Scarcely  different  from  No.  13, 
except  somewhat  coarser.     Thickness  6  feet,  dip  43°. 

No.  21.  Same  as  No.  12.     Thickness  3  rods,  dip  43°. 

No.  22.  Gray,  micaceous,  sandstone  slate — Rough  to  the 
touch,  coarse,  granular,  scarcely  argillaceous,  not  separating 
into  so  thin  layers  as  the  red  slates.  Surface  not  undulating 
or  tortuous.  Thickness  13  feet,  dip  43°.  An  excellent  flag- 
ging stone. 

No.  23.  (No.  9.)  Soft  argillaceous  slate — Surface  smooth, 
scarcely  undulating,  divisible  into  thin  plates,  easily  scratch- 
ed by  the  finger  nail,  and  consisting  of  little  else  than  clay 
moderately  indurated.  Thickness  5  feet,  dip  45°,  easily 
disintegrated,  rarely  micaceous. 

No.  24.  Gray  micaceous  sandstone  slate — Similar  to  No. 
22,  but  softer  to  the  touch  and  finer  grained,  more  undula- 
ting and  divisible  into  thinner  layers,  containing  vegetable 
remains  converted  into  perfect  coal.  These  were  so  numer- 
ous in  one  spot,  that  I  thought  I  had  found  a  bed  of  coal. 
Thickness  3  rods,  dip  40°, 

No.  25.    Gecst—2  rods. 

No.  26.  Shale — Color  very  dark,  containing  sometimes 
small  scales  of  mica,  surface  a  little  knobby,  containing 
abundance  of  sulphuret  of  iron  and  spheroidal  nodules  from 
half  an  inch  to  two  inches  diameter,  oi  argillaceous  iron  ore? 


Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut.  6? 

very  similar  to  the  shale  containing  the  ichthyolite  at  Sun- 
derland. Thickness  1  rod,  dip  40°. 

No'.  27.  Same  as  No.  24.     2  feet  thick,  dip  40.* 

No.  28  A  stratum  of  coarse  grayish  sandstone,  or  rather 
conglomerate,  2  feet  wide,  dip  40°. 

No.  29.  Same  as  No.  24.     Thickness  5  rods,  dip  40°. 

No.  30.  Geest — 10  feet.  It  may  be  well,  perhaps,  here 
to  remark,  that  shale  usually  forms  the  roof  and  floor  of  coal 
beds,  and  that  this  geest  and  that  of  No.  25  lie  immediately 
below  shale.  Connect  this  fact  with  another,  "  that  the  seams 
or  strata  of  coal  rise  up  to  the  superficies  of  the  globe  as  well 
as  all  other  strata,  only  they  do  not  always  push  up  so  bold- 
ly to  the  very  surface  of  ihe  ground  as  many  hard  stones 
and  other  indurated  strata  are  found  to  do ;  for  on  account 
of  the  tender  and  more  friable  texture  of  the  coal,  the  super- 
ficies of  the  stratum  is  often  mouldered  down  and  lies  con- 
cealed under  a  thicker  or  thinner  bed  or  cover  of  clay,  grav- 
el, sand,  or  earth."  (Williams  Mineral  Kingdom,  Vol.  1.  p. 
13i5  2d  edition.)  If  then  coal  can  be  found  along  the  section 
here  described,  (which  I  suspect  to  be  quite  doubtful,)  the 
best  spots  to  search  for  it  are  Nos.  25  and  30. 

No.  31.  Shale — 10  feet  thick,  dip  40°,  containing  abun- 
dance of  nodules  o^aritil/aceous  iron  ore  ?  Rock  rather  hard 
for  pure  shale,  not  liable  to  much  disintegration. 

No.  32.  Coarse,  gray,  sandstone  or  conglomerate — Rock 
harsh  to  the  touch,  imbedded  masses  not  large,  layers  thick. 
Thickness  two  rods,  dip  40°. 

No.  33.  Same  as  No  24.     Thickness  3  rods,  dip  43°. 

No.  34.  Shale — Alternating  with,  and  passing  into,  a 
bluish,  gray,  fine  grained  slate,  harder  than  the  shale,  though 
perhaps  only  a  variety  of  it.  A  little  micaceous.  Thick- 
ness 3  rods,  dip  43°. 

No.  34.  Blackish  gray  slate — Similar  to  that  mentioned 
under  the  last  No.  but  less  fissile  and  much  harder,  indeed, 
it  breaks  with  nearly  as  much  difficulty  as  greenstone,  and 
where  it  is  worn  by  the  water  it  somewhat  resembles  that 
rock.  For  it  contains  numerous  irregular  cells,  sometimes 
two  inches  in  diameter,  formerly  filled,  probably  with  argilla- 
ceous iron  ore^  On  breaking  the  rock  it?  structure  is  slaty 
and  it  is  a  little  micaceous.     Thickness  2  feet,  dip  40°. 

No.  36.  Coarse  grayish  sandstone  or  conglomerate — like 
No.  32,  layers  2  feet  thick.  Thickness  20  feet,  dif»  40^ 


t}8  Geology,  i^'c.  of  (he  Connecticut. 

No.  37.  Red  slaie — As  No.  9,  but  harder  and  coarser 
and  less  irregular  on  the  surface  of  the  layers.  Thickness 
5  rods,  dip  40^. 

No.  38.  Same  as  No.  22.  Thickness  20  feet,  dip  40*'. 
Mo.  39.  Similar  to  No.  38,  hut  more  micaceous  and  di- 
visible, into  thinner  layers;  resembles  much,  certain  varie- 
ties of  mica  slate,  except  that  the  silex  has  a  more  earthy  as- 
pect. .But  it  would  not  be  difficult  to  deceive  almost  any 
geologist,  by  labelling  hand  specimens,  mica  slate.  Thick- 
ness 2  feet,  dip  40°. 

No.  40.  Same  as  No  37.  Thickness  10  feet,  dip  40^ 
This  carries  us  to  the  dam  across  the  Connecticut. 

No.  41.  Hard  grai^  sandstone  slat f — Like  No.  22,  but 
more  undulating  and  irregular.  Thickness  5  rods,  the 
remaining  distance  the  scale  is  much  reduced. 

No.  42.  Very  near  No.  41,  but  coarser  and  not  so  undu- 
lating.    Thickness  8  rods. 

No.  43.  Coarse  gniy  conglomerated  sandstone — layers 
thick;     Thickness  12  rods. 

No.  44.  Same  as  No.  40.   3  rods  thick,  dip  35°. 
No.  45.  Alluvion — 20  rods. 
No.  46.  Same  as  Mo.  32,  about  2  rods  thick. 
No.  47.  Same  as  No.  40,  1  rod  thick. 
No.  43.  Alluvion — a  quarter  of  a  mile;  beyond  this  the 
section  is  continued  on  the  south  bank  of  the  river. 
No.  49.  Same  as  No.  37,  one  half  a  mile. 
No.  50.   (No.  10.)  A  singular  fragmented  rock — unstrati- 
fied,    20  feet  thick,  very  hard  and  tough,  imbedded  frag- 
ments, chiefly  reddish  brown  quartz,  appearing  as  if  it  had 
imdecgone  the  action  of  fire,  a  little  micaceous,  cement  often 
blackish,  appearing  like  veins,  apparently  ferruginous,  rock 
resembling  some  varieties  of  porphyry. 

No.  51.   (No.  G.)  Dark  gray,  very  fissile  sandstone  slate — 
Harder  than  shale,  somewhat  argillaceous  in  its  odour,  a  lit- 
tle micaceous,  surface  rough  and  grit  coarse,  slightly  sono- 
rous when  struck,  1  rod  thick,  dip  40°. 
No.  52.  Same  as  No.  50,  1  rod  thick. 
No.  oi.   Similar  to  No.  39,  5  rods  thick. 
No.  54.  Alluvion  between  half  and  three  quarters  of  a 
tnile. 

No.  55.  Same  as  No.  9,  half  a  mile. 


Geology,  ^'C.  of  the  Connecticut.  6,9 

No.  56.  Same  as  No.  51,  extending  nearly  a  mile,  dip 
at  first  35°,  but  gradually  decreasing  to  15°.  •  The  direction 
of  the  strata  of  this  rock  is  quite  different  from  the  other  va- 
rieties, which  generally  have  a  direction  between  north  and 
northeast.  But  this  variety  is  so  much  wheeled  that  it  runs 
not  far  from  east  and  west;  and  in  passing  up  the  river  we 
sail  for  a  time  nearly  parallel  to  the  direction  of  the  strata. 
I  do  not  see  why  this  rock  might  not  be  employed  for  roof- 
ing;  and  if  so,  the  situation  of  the  quarries  would  surely  be 
very  advantageous. 

No.  57.  Same  as  No.  9,  strata  nearly  perpendicular,  but 
leaning  a  little  to  the  east,  and  their  direction  nearly  the 
same  as  that  of  all  the  varieties  mentioned  except  ihe  last. 
Thickness  10  rods. 

No.  58.  (No.  8.)  Blackish  tortuous  slate — Stratification  ir- 
regular and  the  layers  dividing  into  numerous  shapeless  pie- 
ces by  fissures  in  every  direction.  The  surface  of  these 
amorphous  pieces  is  frequently  a  little  glazed.  Rock,  friable, , 
scarcely  micaceous,  argillaceous,  s:rata  leaning  a  few  degrees 
to  the  east,  20  rods  thick.  This  rock  forms  a  bed  at  the  island 
in  the  falls  in  the  Connecticut  three  miles  below  this  spot, 
and  there  it  is  exposed  to  the  occasional  action  of  the  water 
and  is  disintegrated  so  as  to  leave  the  superincumbent 
strata  projecting  over  it  several  leet,  and  it  very  much  re- 
sembles impure  coal :  but  I  could  not  determine  that  it  con- 
tains any.     It  is  probably  a  variety  of  shale. 

No.  59.  Very  coctrse,  dark  gray  puddingstone — A  gene- 
ral description  of  this  rock  has  already  been  given  in  the  be- 
ginning of  this  article.  (No.  13.)  Imperfectly  stratified  at 
this  place,  rather  harder  than  the  old  red  sandstone  conglom- 
erate, yet  appearing  as  if  composed  of  little  else  than  a  mass 
of  pebbles,  the  cement  bein^;  not  abundant,  extending  at 
least  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  The  Connecticut  at  this  place 
has  worn  a  passage  between  this  rock  and  the  primitive,  and 
high  ledges  appear  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  which,  on 
comparison,  seem  to  differ  almost  toto  coelo.  The  pudding- 
stone  extends  through  Montague,  sometimes  assuming  a 
reddish  aspect,  and  in  Sunderland  forms  a  considerable  part 
of  Mount  Toby.  Here  it  alternates  with  the  red  and  gray 
slates  above  described;  and  it  is  curious  to  observe  the  fre- 
quent sudden  changes  from  this  coarsest  of  conglomerates  t» 
fine  grained  slates.  ^ff 


70  Geology^  fyc.  of  the  Connecticut. 

Where  the  profile  crosses  this  rock,  some  of  the  imbed- 
ded massos  appear  at  their  surface  as  if  they  had  undergone 
the  action  of  fire.  On  breaking  a  mass  of  gray  quartz  con- 
taining a  little  mica,  a  zone  of  half  an  inch  wide  appeared  at 
the  outer  edge,  of  a  brick  colour,  indicating  a  chemical 
change  either  by  fire  or  water,  for  the  specimen  was  some- 
times covered  by  water. 

I  have  observed  little  of  this  peculiar  puddingstone  in 
Connecticut,  though  so  abundant  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
coal  formation.  It  appears,  however,  in  the  south  part  of 
Durham. 

No,  60,  Geest — covering  a  narrow  valley. 

No.  61.  A  narrow  stratum  of  gneiss. 

No.  62.  Granite — This  does  not  appear  in  abundance  oh 
the  bank  of  the  river.  The  best  spot  for  examining  it  is 
half  a  mile  south,  where  it  forms  a  hill  100  or  iOO  feet  high. 

From  the  preceding  description  of  this  profile,  it  appears, 
that  after  crossing  the  first  ridge  of  greenstone  there  is  a 
gradual  decrease  of  the  dip  from  45°  to  15°,  and  after  pass- 
ing this  point,  which  is  not  exactly  central,  but  nearer  the 
granite  than  the  greenstone,  we  find  the  dip  in  a  contrary  di- 
rection, and  almost  90°.  Precisely  such  would  be  the  ef- 
fect, the  Huttonian  would  say,  if  we  suppose  the  granife  and 
the  greenstone  to  have  been  forced  up  tnrough  the  strata  by 
a  subterranean  fire,  after  these  strata  were  consolidated. 
And  we  might  expect,  also,  that  this  convulsion  would  pro- 
duce that  wheeling  of  the  strata  observed  in  the  central  parts. 
There  is  something  peculiarly  striking  in  this  explanation, 
and  an  inquiry  arises,  whether  any  corresponding  facts  oc- 
cur in  any  other  part  of  the  coal  formation.  At  mount  To- 
by, a  few  miles  south  of  Gill  and  the  highest  point  of  the 
coal  formation,  the  strata  dip  to  the  east  at  an  angle  usually 
less  than  10°.  And  here  the  greenstone  ridge  on  the  west 
is  small,  but  the  granite  on  the  east,  at  no  great  distance,  is 
abundant.  On  the  south  east  side  of  Mount  Holyoke  in 
Belchertown  and  Granby,  the  strata  dip  to  the  south  east, 
near  the  mountain,  at  an  angle  not  less  than  45°,  and  the 
greenstone  ridge  here  is  large.  But  the  rocks  that  lie  on 
the  back  of  Mount  Tom,  the  highest  point  of  greenstone 
along  the  Connecticut,  have  a  dip  not  generally  larger  than 
20°.  And  the  same  remark  will  apply  to  many  greenstone 
ridges^  the  accompanying  coal  formation  in  Connecticut. 


Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut.  71 

The  highest  point  of  the  coal  formation  is  Mount  Toby 
in  Sunderland,  which  rises  between  eight  and  nine  hundred 
feet  above  the  Connecticut.  Beginning  at  Whitmore's  fer- 
ry, the  locality  of  the  ichthyolites,  to  be  hereafter  described, 
and  passing  up  the  mountain  obliquely  to  the  south-east, we 
find  alternations  of  most  of  the  rocks  described  in  the  above 
profile.  The  different  varieties  of  conglomerate  are  most 
abundant,  and  cannot,  except  that  variety  which  is  reddish, 
be  easily  confounded  with  the  conglomerate  accompanying 
the  old  red  sandstone.  They  differ  from  this  latter  rock, 
1.  By  being  of  a  light  or  dark  grey  color,  sometimes  a 
little  red.  2.  In  the  greater  abundance  of  imbedded  no- 
dules, and  less  quantity  of  cement.  3.  In  the  different  na- 
ture of  these  nodules,  those  in  the  old  red  sandstone  con- 
glomerate being  chiefly  quartz,  felspar  and  granite,  and 
those  in  the  coal  formation  pudding-stone,  being  chiefly 
mica  slate,  argillite,  chlorite  slate,  talcose  slate,  and  quartz 
with  felspar  and  granite  rarely.  4.  The  coal  formation 
pudding  stone  often  contains  thin  incrustations  of  carbo- 
nate of  lime  in  the  seams  and  crevices.  The  red  sandstone 
is  w^anting  in  this. 

As  a  general  fact,  I  feel  prepared  to  state  that  the  rocks 
of  the  coal  formation  lie  above  the  old  red  sandstone.  In 
most  cases  these  rocks  are  separated  by  greenstone,  so  that 
their  exact  situation  cannot  be  easily  ascertained.  Along  the 
western  face  of  the  greenstone  ridge,  extending  from  Mer- 
iden  into  Massachusetts,  the  rocks  of  the  coal  formation  are 
often  seen  cropping  out  below  the  greenstone  ;  and  the  old 
red  sandstone  occurs  at  a  still  lower  level.  This  may  be 
seen  in  the  space  of  a  few  rods  in  descending  the  hill  nor- 
therly, from  Newgate  prison  ;  and  although  the  actual  junc- 
tion of  the  rocks  is  not  here  observable,  yet  they  appear 
only  at  short  distances  from  one  another.  The  fact,  that 
the  coal  formation  alternates  with  greenstone,  and  that  this 
latter  rock  aiw^ays  lies  above  the  old  red  sandstone,  is  a 
strong  presumptive  argument  that  all  the  coal  formation 
lies  above  the  old  red  sandstone, and  conclusive  evidence  that 
a  part  of  these  rocks  lie  above  it.  The  situation  of  the  rocks 
about  Middletown,  Chatham,  &c.  which  might  be  urged 
as  an  objection  to  this  fact,  has  been  already  considered, 
and  I  leave  it  for  further  examination. 


72  ■  Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut. 

There  are  many  instances,  also,  in  which  the  rocks  of  the 
coal  formation  pass  into  the  old  red  sandstone.  Let  a  per- 
son go  to  the  mouth  of  Fall  river  in  Gill,  where,  as  already 
described,  he  will  find  the  red  argillaceous  sandstone  slate 
of  the  coal  formation  cropping  out  below  the  greenstone. 
Let  him  ascend  Fall  river,  and  he  will  find  this  slate  be- 
coming coarser,  the  layers  thicker  and  the  aspect  changing, 
until,  within  a  mile  and  a  half,  it  becomes  decided  old  red 
sandstone  or  conglomerate;  the  dip,  also,  diminishing,  Or 
let  him  follow  the  road  that  leads  from  the  mouth  of  the 
river  to  Greenfield,  and  as  he  ascends  the  hill,  he  will  ob- 
serve a  gradation  from  the  slate  above  named  into  decided 
fine  grained  red  sandstone.  Much  of  the  rock  occurring 
along  the  east  side  of  Connecticut  river  in  Somers,  Elling- 
ton, Chatham,  in  Middletown  and  Durham,  appears  to  be 
intermediate  between  old  red  sandstone  and  this  slate  of  the 
coal  formation.  Even  in  Somers  and  Ellington,  where  a 
strip  is  marked  as  coal  formation,  I  found  little  else  but  this 
intermediate  rock.  But  as  coal  has  been  found  there,  (Am. 
Journal  of  Science,  vol.  3,  p.  248,)  a  strip  has  been  colored 
brown,  rather  to  mark  out  the  locality  than  the  extent,  of 
the  coal  formation.  It  is  not  improbable  that  some  more 
experienced  geologist  than  myself,  may  hereafter  include 
the  rock  I  have  marked  old  red  sandstone  on  the  east  side 
of  Connecticut  river  as  one  of  the  members  of  the  coal  for- 
mation— but  I  could  not  do  it  without  doing  violence  to  my 
own  convictions. 

It  may  be  of  importance  in  a  geological  view  to  mention 
the  veins  of  copper  ore  so  frequently  found  along  the  Con- 
necticut greenstone  ranges.  All  these  veins  which  I  have 
seen,  or  of  which  an  account  has  been  published,  are  found 
on  tlie  margin  of  the  greenstone  and  coal  formation;  and 
the  veins  always  pass,  either  laterally  or  perpendicularlyy 
from  one  rock  into  the  other.  They  are  quite  numerous, 
and  we  have  already  remarked  that  copper  ore  and  iron 
pyrites  are  not  unfrequenlly  disseminated  in  the  slates. 

To  avoid  mistake:  I  will  just  mention  different  spots  on 
the  map  that  are  colored  as  the  coal  formation.  1.  A  large 
extent  in  Gill,  Montague  and  Sunderland;  2.  In  Granby, 
Mass.  and  Ludlow;  3  A  small  patch  in  Somers  and  El- 
lington; 4.  An  extensive  range  extending  from  West- 
Springfield  to  Berlin;  5.  In  Hartford,  Westhersfield,  Mid- 


Geology^  SfC.  of  the  Connecticut.  73 

dletown  and  Durham ;  6.  A  small  patch  in  East-Haven  j 
7.  A  narrow  range  in  Southington ;  8.  The  same  in  West- 
field  and  South-Hampton.  The  latter,  in  the  noriliern 
part,  is  penetrated  by  the  drift  to  the  South-Hampton  lead- 
mine;  but  scarcely  appears  at  the  surface.  In  Westfield, 
however,  it  is  wider. 

It  would  seem  from  the  preceding  description  that  all  the 
rocks  essential  to  Werner's  Independent  Coal  Formation 
are  to  be  found  along  the  Connecticut,  viz.  a  friable  mica- 
ceous sandstone,  shale  and  pudding-stone,  (Cleaveland, 
vol.  2,  p.  508,)  and  also  the  greenstone  and  amygdaloid 
Professor  Jameson  has  added.  Still,  however,  there  are 
some  other  circumstances  which  may  leave  the  geologist  in 
doubt  whether  the  real  independent  coal  formation  occurs 
along  this  river. 

Some  ma)'  suppose  the  rocks  above  described  to  be  grey 
wacke  and  grey  wacke  slate  ;  and  if  the  definition  of  grey 
wacke  be  so  broad  as  to  include  those  pudding-stones  whose 
cement  is  merely  a  comminuted  portion  of  the  imbedded  frag- 
ments, it  will  indeed  include  not  only  the  pudding-stone  of 
the  coal  formation  above  described,  but,  for  aught  1  can  see, 
even  the  old  red  sandstone;  and,  indeed,  what  fragmented 
rock  will  it  not  include.''*  And  besides,  many  of  the  argilla- 
ceous sandstone  slates  described  above,  cannot, without  diffi- 
culty be  distinguished  from  certain  varieties  ofgrey  wacke  slate 
in  hand  specimens.  But  the  rock  usually  called  grey  wacke 
in  Europe  has  never  yet,  I  believe,  been  found  lying  above 
the  old  red  sandstone,  as  does  the  coal  formation  along  this 
river.  It  is  usually  traversed,  say?  Jameson,  by  quartz  in 
the  form  of  veins,  which  is  rarely,  if  ever,  the  case  in  our 
rock.  It  has  never  been  found  alternating  with  beds  of  any 
sort  of  coal,  except  the  coal  blende;  but  our  rock  con- 
tains many  beds  and  veins  of  that  which  is  highly  bitumin- 
ous. Again,  the  icthyolites  and  other  organic  relics  that 
are  found  at  Sunderland  have  almost  all  the  rocks  of  the 
©oal  formation  lying  above  them,  as  may  be  seen  by  the 
sketch  of  Mount  Toby,   that  will  be  given  when  we  come 

*Some  judicious  remarks  on  this  subject  are  contained  in  the  North- 
Aaierican  Review,  No.  29,  p.  235.  There  we  find  the  following  sentenee 
f  oncerning  the  Roxbury  and  Dorchester  plumb-puddino;-stonc,  which  some- 
what resembles  a  certain  variety  described  above.  "This  rock  forms  one 
vast  bed,  which  we  have  examined  in  various  parts  and  feel  no  hesitation  in 
saying  that  it  is  not  the  grey  wacke  of  European  geologists." 

10 


74  Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut. 

to  describe  these  remains.  But  in  other  countries  "these 
fossil  remains  of  fishes  are  found  only  in  strata  of  very  re- 
cent origin.''     (Rees.  Cyc.  Art.  Icthyolltes.) 

The  great  dip  of  many  of  these  rocks  may  be  thought  to 
afford  evidence  of  their  being  older  than  the  old  red  sand- 
stone, or  the  independent  coal  formation.  But  to  show 
that  the  dip  of  rocks  is  a  very  equivocal  criterion  of  their 
age,  I  need  only  to  refer  to  the  recent  work  of  Greenough 
on  the  first  principles  of  geology.  And  besides,  it  is  no  un- 
common thing  in  real  coal  fields  for  rocks  to  be  highly  in- 
clined. "This  inclination  or  dip  of  the  (coal)  strata  is  found 
every  where  ;  in  some  places  it  varies  very  little  from  the 
level;  in  others  considerably,  even  so  much  as  to  be  nearly 
in  a  perpendicular  direction;''  (Rees  Cyclopedia,  Art. 
Coal,)  and  still  farther,  as  already  hinted,  there  is  rea- 
son to  believe  that  Mount  Toby,  the  strata  of  which 
are  almost  horizontal,  exhibits  the  original  dip  of  these 
rocks,  and  that  those  cases  in  which  they  are  more 
highly  inclined  are  the  result  of  some  Plutonian  convul- 
sion. Such  irregularity  in  the  dip  of  coal  fields  is  no 
uncommon  occurrence.  "In  some  coal  fields,"  says  Mr. 
Williams,  (Nat.  Hist.  Min.  Kingd.  vol.  1,  p.  93,)  "the  stra- 
ta acquire  this  horizontal  and  waving  position,  and  afterward, 
towards  the  south-west  or  toward  the  north-east,  the  decliv- 
ity becomes  again  so  steep  as  to  form  an  angle  of  45°,  and 
in  some  particular  instances  to  approach  still  nearer  to  the 
vertical  position."  Upon  the  whole,  I  think  there  are  insu- 
perable objections  against  referring  the  rocks  of  our  coal  for- 
mation to  grey  wacke  and  grey  wacke  slate. 

Another  opinion  already  advanced  on  the  subject  is  more 
probable.  It  is  that  of  Mr.  Brongniart,  who  gave  it  after 
having  seen  only  the  rocks  containing  the  Westfield  fish 
impressions.  "This  formation,"  says  he,  "appears  to  me 
to  have  the  strongest  resemblance  to  that  of  the  bituminous 
marl  slates  of  the  copper-mines  in  the  country  of  Mansfield 
and  Hesse."  (Journal  of  Science,  vol,  3,  p.  220.)  The 
arguments  in  favor  of  such  an  opinion  are,  1.  The  great  sim- 
ilarity in  the  appearance  of  the  German  and  American  rocks 
on  which  the  fish  are  found — one  species,  at  least,  being 
the  same  in  both,  2.  Tlie  occurrences  of  copper  ores,  and 
similar  o:;es  too,  along  with  native  copper  in  both  rocks. 
3.  The  fact  that  both  these  varieties  of  rocks  lie  immedi- 
ately above  the  old  red  sandstone.     Perhaps  there  are  oth- 


Geology,  S^c.  of  the  Connecticut.  75 

or  points  of  resemblance,  but  I  have  not  been  able  to  find 
any  minute  account  of  the  bituminous  marlite  formation.* 

On  the  other  hand  it  may  be  said  that  no  real  bituminous 
marlite  occurs  along  the  Connecticut — provided  the  grand 
distinction  between  this  rock  and  bituminous  shale  consists, 
as  Professor  Cleaveland  says,  (Mineral,  vol.  1,  p.  191,)  in 
its  effervescence  with  acids ;  for  our  rock,  certainly  that  at 
Sunderland,  does  not  effervesce  with  acid,  unless  it  contains, 
as  it  sometimes  does,  a  slight  incrustation  of  carbonate  of 
lime.  Mr.  B.  does  not  consider  the  occurrence  of  thin 
beds  or  veins  of  coal  as  opposed  to  his  opinion;  but  the 
strata  penetrated  at  Riegelsdorf  in  Hesse,  in  order  to  reach 
the  fish  impressions,  are  totally  different  from  those  occur- 
ring along  the  Connecticut.  They  are  as  follows:  "  No.  1, 
Ferruginous  clayey  mould,  from  one  to  two  fathoms.  No. 
2.  Greyish  white  limestone,  from  six  to  eight  fathoms.  ' 
No.  3.  Blue  clay,  with  imbedded  fragments  of  selenite 
crystals,  from  eight  to  ten  fathoms.  No.  4.  Bluish  lime- 
stone, called  Rauchivacke,  from  eight  to  nine  fathoms.  No. 
5.  Grey  compact  gypsum,  traversed  by  ferruginous  loam, 
from  seven  to  eight  fathoms.  No.  6.  Black  and  grey  stink- 
stone,  from  one  to  one  and  an  half  fathoms.  No.  7.  Sand, 
sometimes  loose,  sometimes  cemented,  from  one  to  one  and 
an  half  fathoms.  No.  8.  A  kind  of  limestone,  called  Zech- 
stein,  of  a  greyish  brown  color,  and  soft  above  towards  the 
sand,  but  blacker  and  more  compact  below;  from  three  and 
a  quarter  to  three  and  an  half  fathoms.  No.  9.  A  black 
slaty  stratum,  containing  pyrites  and  forming  the  roof  of  the 
bituminous  marl  slate,  from  eighteen  to  twenty  inches.  No. 
10.  Black  cupriferous  bituminous  marl  slate,  from  three  to 
eight  inches  :  this  is  the  principal  depository  of  the  icthyo- 

*Extract  of  a  letter  from  Dr.  J.  W.  Webster : — 
"The  bituminous  marl  slate  has  been  one  of  the  most  troublesome  rocks 
for  years  :  some  have  placed  it  here  and  some  there.  From  its  effervescence 
with  acids  we  should  perhaps  more  properly  put  it  among  the  limestones. 
Again,  from  the  richness  of  some  specimens  of  it  in  copper,  they  would  be 
classed  as  copper  ores — indeed,  we  know  that  it  is  worked  for  copper.  It 
occurs  in  the  secondary  limestone.  Its  external  characters  are  very  little 
different  from  those  of  bituminous  shale  of  the  coal  formation ;  but  from  all  I 
have  learned  of  it,  I  am  pretty  well  satisfied  that  it  is  distinct  from  and  above 
the  rocks  of  the  coal  formation.  You  will  note  one  striking  difference  be- 
tween the  two — vegetable  impressions  are  abundant  in  bituminous  shale  of 
the  coal  field  ;  but  rare  in  the  B.  M.  slate — it  is  more  abundant  in  fresh 
water  remains." 


76  Geology,  (^c.  of  the  Connecticut. 

lites.  No.  11.  Gneiss  like  greyish  white  rock,  consisting 
ol'  small  rounded  quartz  pebbles,  and  sometimes  of  copper 
and  mica,  cemented  by  indurated  clay.  No.  12.  Old 
red  sandstone,  or  the  dead  rock,  being  the  fundamental 
rock  of  these  floetz  strata."   (Rees  Cyc.  Art.  Icthyoiites.) 

Under  these  circumstances  I  have  thought  it  safe  to  de- 
nominate the  peculiar  rocks  under  consideration  along  the 
Connecticut,  the  coal  formation.  A  more  complete  set  of 
them  has  been  forwarded  to  Mr.  Brongniart,  and  we  wait 
anxiously  for  his  final  opinion.  The  suspicious  circumstan^ 
GPS  attending  them  and  the  occurrence  of  the  coal  hitherto 
discovered  in  thin  beds  and  veins  only,  render  it  very  doubtful 
whether  extensive  beds  of  this  valuable  mineral  will  ever  be 
found  in  them.  They  have  been  unsuccessfully  explored 
at  South-Hadley,  Southington  and  Westfield,  Ct.  But  I 
would  not  wish  to  discourage  further  search.  The  decision 
of  the  question  above  discussed,  concerning  the  precise 
lank  they  ought  to  hold  in  the  rock  formations  of  the  globe, 
is  one  of  considerable  importance,  since  it  will  depend  on 
that  decision  whether  coal  or  copper  or  gypsum  may  be 
sought  after  with  the  greatest  prospect  of  success.  They 
liave  long  been  to  me  a  fruitful  source  of  perplexity,  and 
again  and  again  have  I  returned  from  traversing  them  in 
utter  despair  of  ever  determining  their  real  geological  rela- 
tions. To  denominate  them  the  coal  formation  relieves, 
ibr  a  time,  most  of  these  difficulties  :  but  that  name  will 
cheerfully  be  resigned  whenever  a  more  correct  one  shall 
1)6  proposed. 

Organic  Remains  in  the  Coal  Formation, 

1.  Icthyoiites. 

These  occur  at  Westfield,  Ct.  and  at  Sunderland,  Mass. ; 
and  it  is  said  also  at  some  other  places,  as  at  West-Spring- 
field ;  but  I  have  never  seen  any,  except  from  these  two 
localities.  At  Westfield  they  were  found  in  exploring  for 
coal,  \y'it^  upon  bituminous  shale.  Two  species  at  least 
were  recognized,  one  of  which  Mr.  Brongniart  calls  the  Pa- 
Icethrissum  freislebenense  of  Blainvilie.  These  impressions 
have  been  so  repeatedly  and  accurately  described  by  Prof. 
Silliman  in  Cleaveland's  Mineralogy  and  the  American 
Jour,  of  Science,  that  it  is  unnecessary  to  be  more  particular. 


Geology.,  <^c.  of  the  Connecticut.  77 

At  Sunderland  these  impressions  occur  in  bituminous 
shale,  which  often  contains  a  little  mica,  and  generally  a 
quantity  of  iron  pyrites,  disseminated  through  the  rock. 
They  occur  at  Witmore's  ferry  in  the  north  part  of  Sunder- 
land, in  the  bank  of  the  river.  They  are  found  most  abun- 
dant at  the  lowest  water  mark,  at  which  time  two  men,  in 
less  than  half  a  day.  dug  out  for  me  nearly  fifty  specimens. 
Sometimes  a  layer  of  semi-crystalline  dark  colored  carbo- 
nate of  lime,  less  than  one  twentieth  of  an  inch  thick,  lies 
between  the  layers  of  slate.  The  substance  of  the  fish  is 
usually  converted  iiUo  coal,  the  thickness  of  which  is  rarely 
more  than  one  tenth  of  an  inch  in  any  part,  and  the  color  is 
black.  In  some  instances,  however,  the  carbonate  of  lime 
above  mentioned  covers  the  fish,  and  has  taken  the  place  of 
the  matter  of  the  fins  and  scales  and  their  original  light 
grey  color  isp;eserved  so  perfectly  as  to  resemble  a  fish 
just  taken  out  of  the  water.  Some  of  the  specimens 
appear  contorted;  in  others  the  form  of  the  fish  is  whol- 
ly lost,  the  fins  and  scales  and  bones,  being  scattered 
about  promiscuously,  as  if  the  fish  had  perished  in  violent 
struggles  or  the  rock  had  been  disturbed  after  its  imprison- 
ment. Yet,  in  the  same  specimen  that  contains  one  thus 
mutilated,  another  will  appear  not  more  than  a  foot  distant 
which  is  whole.  1  have  found  four  or  five  specimens  in 
which  the  fishes  (both  of  them  distinct,)  lie  across  each  oth- 
er; sometimes  a  very  thin  layer  of  shale,  and  sometimes 
none,  separating  them.  I  have  another  specimen,  three  feet 
longand  fifteen  inches  wide,  containing  seven  distinct  impres- 
sions. The  shale  in  which  these  ichthyolites  occur,when  rub- 
bed or  held  in  a  flame,  exhales  a  strong  bituminous  odour.*' 

Among  the  impressions  hitherto  obtained,  I  can  easily 
discover  three  distinct  species  that  have  scales  *  Two  of 
these  are  represented  on  the  accompanying  plate ;  but  the 
third  was  so  much  mutilated,  that  1  did  not  attempt  to  de- 
lineate it.  For  at  the  best  it  is  no  easy  matter  to  represent 
them  so  exactly  as  to  be  of  use.  They  are  usually  a  little  in- 
distinct on  their  border,and  not  unfrequently  injured  by  pyrites. 

Fig.  1.  represents  a  species  that  is  rare. 

Fig.  2.  shows  the  most  common  species.  There  can  be 
no  doubt  that  this  differs  generically  from  the  last. 

*Precisely  such  a  smell  is  exhaled  from  the  bituminous  limestone  in 
Southington. 

*Sce  the  en<3. 


"^S  Geology,  c^c.  of  the  Connecticut. 

Fig.  3.  is  probably  the  same  as  Fig.  2. ;  but  perhaps  not. 
The  outline  is  given  because  the  fins  were  more  distinct 
than  in  the  specimen  from  which  Fig.  2.  was  copied. 

These  are  all  of  the  natural  size.  Concerning  their  names, 
feeling  altogether  incompetent,  I  do  not  even  attempt  to  de- 
cide. I  have  not  had  an  apportunity  to  compare  them  close- 
ly with  the  Westfield  icthyolites,  and  do  not  know  whether 
they  coincide. 

Another  petrifaction  occurs  with  these  fishes,  which  re- 
sembles the  common  silver  eel,  (Muraena  anguilla.)  or  some 
other  species  of  the  eel  tribe.  The  width  varies  from  half 
an  inch  to  a  whole  one,  and  the  length  from  one  to  two  feet. 
The  substance  of  the  eel  (if  indeed  it  be  one,)  is  not  con- 
verted into  coal,  but  there  is  a  substitution  of  the  shale  of  a 
finer  grain,  except  the  head,  which  is  coal.  No  fins  appear, 
except,  perhaps,  in  one  instance,  a  pectoral  one.  Some- 
times, along  the  centre  of  the  impression,  there  is  a  small 
relief,  answering  to  the  place  of  vertebrae.  The  course  of 
the  impressions  is  usually  serpentine. 

The  geological  situation  of  these  icthyolites  is  interesting. 
The  shale  containing  them  passes  under  Mount  Toby,  there 
being  a  gradual  ascent  from  this  spot  to  the  top  of  the 
mountain,  two  miles  distant :  so  that  they  lie  beneath  rocks 
of  the  coal  formation  at  the  depth  of  nearly  nine  hundred 
feet,  most  of  the  varieties  described  on  the  profile  annex- 
ed to  the  map  here  alternating  with  one  another.  The  fol- 
lowing sketch  exhibits  a  section  of  the  shale  of  Mount  Toby, 
so  far  as  the  geest  would  admit  of  examination,  on  a  line 
passing  from  the  locality  of  the  icthyolites  to  the  highest 
point  of  the  mountain.  I  do  not  suppose  it  perfectly  accu- 
rate ,  but  it  is  probably  sufficiently  so  to  answer  the  intend- 
ed purpose,  viz.  to  exhibit  the  situation  of  the  ichthyolites. 
The  numbers  in  a  parenthesis  refer  to  those  on  the  profile 
that  are  synonymous.  The  dip  of  these  strata  rarely  ex- 
ceeds ten  degrees,  and  is  usually  less. 

No.  1.  (No.  59.)  Very  Coarse  dark  grey  pudding-stone^ 
for  an  account  of  it  see  the  reference  to  the  profile,  on 
plate  No.  8.  at  the  end. 

No.  2.  Bituminous  Shale.  This  contains  icthyolites — 
strata  nearly  horizontal — dip  never  exceeding  five  degrees. 
Thickness  of  the  stratum,  about  ten  feet. 

No.  3.  Same  as  No.  I .  except  sometimes  alternating  with 


Geology,  S^c.  of  the  Connecticut,  1% 

a  pudding-«tone,  less  coarse  and  more  distinctly  stratified. 
Thickness,  between  tv^^o  and  three  hundred  feet. 

No.  4.  (No.  9.)  Red  fissile  argillaceous  sandstone  slate, 
ten  feet  in  perpendicular  thickness. 

No.  5.  Same  as  No.  1.  Thickness  ten  feet — dip  six  de- 
grees. 

No.  6.  Same  as  No.  4.     Thickness  four  feet. 

No.  7.  Same  as  No.  1.  except  not  so  coarse,  and  more 
distinctly  stratified,  agreeing  nearer  with  No.  43  of  the  pro- 
file.    Thickness  fifteen  feet. 

No.  8.  Same  as  No.  4.  two  feet  thick.  Where  this  rock 
alternates  with  the  pudding-stone  the  change  is  very  strik- 
ing. 

No.  9.  Same  as  No.  7.     Thickness  fifteen  feet. 

No.  iO.  Same  as  No.  4.  five  feet  thick. 

No.  11.  Same  as  No.  7.  twenty  feet  thick. 

No.  12.  Same  as  No.  4.  graduating  into  the  conglomer* 
ate — ten  feet  thick. 

No.  13.  Like  No.  1.  sixty  feet  thick. 

No.  14.  Grei/  argillaceous  sandstone  slate,  sometimes 
micaceous.  Somewhat  like  No.  23.  of  the  profile,  but 
coarser — liable  to  decomposition  and  containing  many  wa- 
ter-worn pebbles.  Thickness  ten  feet.  This  carries  us  to 
the  Sunderland  cave. 

No.  15.     Same  as  No.  4.  fifteen  feet  thick. 

No.  16.     Same  as  No.  1.  about  one  hundred  feet  thick. 

No.  17.  Same  as  No.  4.  except  that  it  is  coarser  and  the 
layers  thicker — about  ten  feet  thick. 

No.  18.  A  pudding-stone  not  differing  essentially  from 
No.  1.  but  frequently  of  a  reddish  cast  and  more  distinctly 
stratified.  This  continues  with  little  interruption  to  the  top 
of  the  mountain  ;  though  the  soil  hides  it  in  most  parts,  and 
there  may  be  other  alternations  which  I  did  not  observe. 

2.  ^  Clam  Shell? 


I  found  a  specimen  at  the  cave  in  Sunderland,  imbedded 
in  an  argillaceous  slate,  which  resembles  the  common  river 
clam.  There  was  a  perfect  substitution  of  siliceous  matter. 
A  single  specimen  only  was  found,  which  was  forwarded  to 
Mr.  Brongniartj  and  he  will  be  able  doubtless  to  decide 
"whether  it  is  a  petrifaction  or  a  peculiar  water- worn  pebble. 


Sj9  Geology,  S^rc.  of  the  Connecticut. 


3.    Vegetable  Remains.  ' 

These  appear  to  be  either  the  branches  or  roots  of  trees, 
or  the  relics  of  cuhniferous  plants,  and  therefore  may  be  cal- 
led lignites  and  rhizolites.  They  are  usually  converted  in- 
to a  thin  vein  of  coal,  similar  to  the  fish.  They  are  com- 
monly broken  into  pieces  from  an  inch  to  two  feet  long,  in 
the  manner  represented  in  Fig.  4.  Their  width  varies  from 
a  mere  line  to  two  inches.  They  are  not  jointed — found  in 
abundance  at  the  falls  in  Gill ;  also  with  the  icthyolites  at 
Sunderland.  The  rock  in  which  they  occur  at  both  places 
is  hardly  bituminous  shale ;  but  a  greyish  micaceous  sand- 
stone. The  longest  specimen  of  rhizohte  1  have  seen  oc- 
curs on  the  road  side,  one  half  mile  south  of  Newgate  pris- 
on; being  not  less  than  seven  or  eight  feet  in  length. 

4.   Unkn07on  Relic. 

This  is  represented  as  well  as  it  could  be  in  Fig.  5.  It 
is  difficult  to  give  a  perfect  idea  of  the  thing,  because  there 
is  a  relief  or  swelling  along  the  middle.  It  sometimes  re- 
sembles the  anient  of  the  chesnut,  (Caslanea  americana 
Mx.)  but  still  more  the  vertebrae  of  a  fish.  But  in  no  ich- 
thyolite  I  ever  found,  did  I  see  any  remains  of  the  vertebrae, 
and  it  is  not  probable,  therefore,  that  this  belonged  to  a  fish. 
It  is  rare — found  with  the  icthyolites  at  Sunderland. 

15.  Alluvion. 

Colored  Gamboge  Yellow, 

By  this  term  I  understand  those  accumulations  of  gravel, 
clay,  sand,  mud  and  salt,  which  are  post-diluvian,  or  have 
probably  been  deposited  since  the  Noachic  delude  by  causes 
at  present  acting  on  the  globe.  Some  varieties  may  be 
seen  along  the  Connecticut  which  we  shall  mention  in  the 
probable  order  in  which  they  were  deposited. 

1.  The  alluvion  on  the  sea-coast.  This  is  probably  the 
oldest;  because  the  sea  would  begin  its  depositions  imme- 
diately after  the  deluge,  if  the  situation  of  any  particular 
place  were  favorable — even  before  it  had  subsided  suffi- 


Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut.  81 

ciently  for  rivers  to  have  found  their  channels.  On  the 
map  it  embraces  the  alluvial  plain  around  New-Haven  and 
the  salt  marshes  extending  some  distance  on  both  sides  of 
the  city  .  The  plain  of  New-Haven  is  made  up  of  coarse 
sand  vv  'th  some  gravel  and  an  intermixture  of  broken  shells 
and  sea  weed.  The  marshes  consist  of  sand,  mud  and 
salt. 

The  region  about  New-Haven,  embraced  by  this  alluvion, 
is  interesting  to  the  botanist,  as  he  here  finds  many  plants 
not  growing  in  the  interior.  Among  these,  we  may  men- 
tion Salsola  kali,  Salicornia  herbacea,  Triglochin  mariti- 
mum,  Statice  limonium,  Iva  frutescens  of  Lki.  and  Ammi 
capillaccum  and  Conyza  camphorata  of  Muhl.  Limnetis 
polystachia  and  juncea  of  Ph.  L.  glabra,  Muhl.  Holciis 
odoratus,  Mx.  and  Limosella  suhulata,  Ives.  Here  also, 
occur  the  other  new  species  of  Prof.  Ives,  GnaphaUum  de- 
currens  and  Asclepias  lanceolata,  along  with  Plantago 
maritima,  lanceolata^  and  Virginica  of  Lin.  Eriocaulon 
pellucidum,  Mx.  Cassia  chamaecrista  and  Uniola  spicata 
of  Lin.  &.C.  &LC.  On  the  beach  we  find  Fucus  nodosus 
and  vesiculosus  of  Lin.*  and  adhering  to  the  latter, 
Mytilus  striatuhis  ?  (Donov.  in  Rees.)  Here  also  occur 
Venus  mercenaria,  (common  clam)  Ostrea  edulis  ?  (oyster) 
and  one  or  two  species  oi  Area  and  Anomia,  with  others  I 
do  not  know. 

2.  Gravel.  This  usually  lies  beneath  all  other  alluvial 
deposits  along  the  Connecticut :  though  it  sometimes  al- 
ternates with  beds  of  sand.  It  is  arranged  in  somewhat 
regular  strata.  The  pebbles  rarely  exceed  two  or  three 
inches  in  diameter. 

3.  Clay.  This  is  a  coarse  kind,  such  as  is  used  for  mak- 
ing brick;  and  generally  lies  above  the  gravel  and  beneatli 
the  sand  and  mud,  or  loam.  It  probably  underlies  those 
extensive  sandy  plains  that  occur  in  Suffield  and  Windsor, 
on  the  West,  and  in  Springfield,  Longmeadow,  Enfield, 
East  Windsor,  and  East  Hartford,  on  the  east  of  the  Con- 
necticut. In  some  places  the  clay  appears  at  the  surface, 
as  in  Hartford,  Windsor,  Deerfield,  Sic. 

*  On  Long-Island,  fifty  miles  east  of  New-Haven  harbor,  I  found  Sphae- 
roroccns  covfervoidcs,  Agardh. 

11 


82  Geology.,  <^c.  of  the  Connecticut. 

4.  Sand.  This  commonly  lies  the  highest  of  the  alluvi- 
on, except  in  some  low  meadows  that  are  yearly  receiving 
a  deposite  of  a  loamy  sediment.  The  region  in  which 
sand  occurs  most  abundantly,  has  just  been  mentioned.  It 
is  sometimes  seen  in  alternating  beds  with  gravel,  clay  and 
loam. 

b.  Loam  and  mud.  This  is  the  most  recent  of  our  allu- 
vion, and  depositions  of  it  are  frequently  made.  The  Con- 
necticut indeed,  seems,  with  some  exceptions,  to  have 
nearly  reached  its  maximum  of  depositions,  rarely  flowing 
over  more  than  a  small  part  of  the  alluvion  along  its  banks. 
But  its  tributaries,  such  as  the  Farmington,  Westfield,  Deer- 
field,  and  Chickapee,  still  continue  annually,  and  often 
semi-annually,  to  flood  the  adjacent  meadows,  and  to  leave 
there  an  additional  soil,  from  half  an  inch  to  six  inches 
deep,  and  though  the  agriculturalist  has  sometimes  to  la- 
ment the  destruction  of  his  crops  by  these  inundations,  yet 
without  them  his  fields  would  soon  become  comparatively 
unproductive. 

The  depth  of  the  alluvion  along  the  Connecticut  has 
never  been  accurately  measured ;  but  I  should  judge  it 
sometimes  to  be  as  great  as  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet;: 
but  in  general  it  is  much  less.  It  is  not  unfrequent  to  find 
ten  or  fifteen  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  most  recent  of 
this  alluvion,  logs,  stumps  of  trees,  leaves,  butternuts,  wal- 
nuts, &c.  in  a  partially  decaying  state,  and  sometimes  we 
meet  with  skeletons  of  the  aborigines  of  the  country.  But 
no  aurock,  mastodon,  or  megatherium,  has  yet  been  dis- 
covered to  give  an  interest  to  this  alluvial  formation. 

I  have  found  a  difliculty  in  some  instances  in  drawing  the 
line  between  genuine  post-deluvian  depositions  and  geest. 
In  some  cases  there  appears  to  be  a  mixture.  In  other 
cases  the  rocks  are  entirely  hid  by  the  soil,  and  yet  the 
predominant  characteristic  of  the  soil  is  derived  from  the 
rock  underneath  it,  although  there  is  a  mixture  of  alluvion. 
The  old  red  sandstone  for  instance,  and  the  red  slate  of  the 
coal  formation,  are  very  liable  to  decomposition,  and  thus 
a  reddish  soil  is  produced,  so  manifestly  composed  of  the 
ruins  of  the  rock,  that  one  is  able  often  to  determine  from 
the  appearance  of  the  soil  at  the  distance  of  two  or  three 
miles  the  particular  rock  that  lies   beneath  it.     I  have  not. 


\ 


Geology.,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut.  83 

however,  intended  to  put  down  the  alluvion  in  all  such  cases, 
but  have  colored  the  spot  according  to  the  subjacent  rock. 
And  on  this  ground  I  am  sensible  that  there  are  a  number 
of  small  parts  of  the  alluvion  that  ought,  in  strictness,  to 
have  been  colored  as  old  red  sandstone  ;  as  in  East-Hamp- 
ton and  Deerfield ;  but  being  so  small  they  were  neglec 
ted. 

16.  Geest.     Jameion. 

Deluvian  Detritus.     Buckland. 

•'By  geest,"  says  Jameson,  "is  understood  the  alluvial 
matter  which  is  spread  over  the  surface  both  of  the  hilly 
and  low  country  and  appears  to  have  been  formed  the  last 
time  the  waters  of  the  ocean  stood  over  the  surface  of  the 
cjMHI  And  it  is  probable  that  Professor  Buckland  refers 
to  the  same  deposition  by  the  above  synonym.  By  deluvi- 
an detritus,  he  means  "fragments  of  neighboring  and  dis- 
tant rocks,  and  with  bones  not  mineralized — generally  in 
valleys."  Whatever  objections  may  lie  against  these  defi- 
nitions, every  geologist  knows  that  much  deposition  exists 
on  the  globe  which  no  one  refers  to  what  is  commonly  un- 
derstood by  alluvion,  and  which  could  result  from  no  pro- 
cesses nature  is  now  carrying  on.  This  is  scattered  over 
the  most  mountainous  tracts,  and  in  all  cases  of  consider- 
able extent,  occupies  at  least  three  quarters  of  the  surface. 
It  is  usually  denominated  soil,  comprehending,  however, 
the  bowlder  stones  and  organic  remains  that  soil  contains. 
As  a  general  fact,  this  geest,  in  primitive  regions,  consists 
of  comminuted  particles  and  rolled  stones  of  primitive 
rocks.  In  secondary  tracts  it  consists  of  secondary  detritus, 
though  more  frequently  mixed  with  portions  of  rocks  of  a 
primitive  character. 

Along  the  Connecticut  in  the  primitive  region,  large 
bowlders  in  great  numbers  are  not  commonly  found  remov- 
ed many  miles  from  the  spot  where  they  originated.  Strag- 
glers of  this  description  may  indeed  be  found  almost  every 
where ;  and  among  all  the  rocks  none  seems  to  be  more 
scattered  than  granite  :  though  perhaps  the  numerous  beds 
and  veins  of  this  rock  found  almost  every  whrre  may  ac- 


S4  Geology,  ^c  of  the  Connecticut. 

count  for  this.  But  in  general  along  this  river,  the  char- 
acter of  the  rolled  masses  corresponds  to  the  rock  in  place 
underneath  them  ; — that  is  the  greatest  number  of  the 
loose  stones  are  of  the  same  description  as  the  rock  that 
underlies  them.  But  to  this  there  are  many  exceptions — a 
most  remarkable  one  occurs  a  few  miles  west  of  New- 
Haven  in  Woodbridge  and  Milford.  The  surface  is  cover- 
ed with  rolled  masses,  sometimes  quite  large,  of  primitive 
and  secondary  greenstone,  mica  slate,  gneiss,  granite,  and 
almost  every  other  rock,  except  that  which  is  in  place 
viz.  chlorite  slate,  or  argillite.  In  many  places  on  the  map 
which  are  highly  mountainous,  the  geest  is  so  abundant 
as  to  occupy  most  of  the  surface  ; — the  subjacent  rock 
rarely  appearing  ; — as  in  the  east  part  of  Plainfield  and  in 
Shutesbury.  The  diameter  of  the  loose  fragments  varies 
from  an  inch  to  twenty,  or  even  thirty  feet,  and  they  are 
usually  rounded,  indicating  attrition.  Some  of  the|j|||^est 
of  these  bowlders  are  found  insulated  on  the  pinnacles  of 
our  mountains. 

There  is  a  particular  kind  of  geest,  which  I  have  al- 
ready mentioned,  occurring  along  the  Connecticut,  that 
does  not  seem  to  be  comprehended  in  Professor  Jameson's 
definitions.  It  is  that  kind  of  soil  that  results  from  the 
slow  disintegration  and  decomposition  of  certain  rocks, 
with  a  mixture  of  decaying  vegetables.  This,  as  already 
observed,  is  not  uncommon  above  the  old  red  sandstone 
and  the  red  siliceous  sandstone  slate  of  the  coal  forma- 
tion, ^nd  the  epithet  delnvian  seems  to  exclude  this  kind 
of  soil  from  Prof.  Buckland's  deluvian  detritus;  and  so  the 
epithet  fiuviatile  excludes  it  from  the  jluviatile  detritus  of 
the  s?.n)e  author.     (Rees'  Cyc.  Art.  Geology,  Addenda.) 

Hayden^'s  Hypothesis  of  a  primeval  northeasterly  current  of 

water. 

1  allude  to  Haydcn's  Geological  Essays,  in  which  he  ex- 
presses ihe  opinion  that  the  alluvion  of  our  middle  and 
southern  states  was  formed  by  a  current  or  currents  that 
formerly  flowed  across  this  continent  from  the  northeast  to 
the  southwest;  and  I  am  inclined  to  believe,  (without  in- 
tending, however,   to  adopt  altogether  his  theory  on  the 


Geology^  <$'C.  of  the  Connecticut.  85 

subject,)  that  a  careful  examination  of  the  bowlder  stones 
along  the  Connecticut  would  favor  the  supposition.  Mas- 
ses of  greenstone  are  found  at  a  greater  distance,  and  in 
much  greater  quantities  on  the  western  side  of  the  ridges 
than  on  the  eastern.  As  we  ascend  the  primitive  region 
on  the  west  side  of  ihe  river,  secondary  rolled  stones  are 
seen  for  one  or  two  miles  ;  but  on  the  eastern  side,  if  I 
mistake  not,  nothing  of  this  kind  appears;  and  1  should 
suppose  the  bowlders  of  Woodbridge  and  Milford,  being 
evidently  brought  from  the  country  to  the  north,  would  tes- 
tify in  favor  of  such  an  hypothesis. 

Suggestion  concerning  rolled  Stones. 

Is  it  not  a  fact  that  rolled  masses  are  more  abundant  and 
more  perfectly  rounded  along  the  limits  between  the  primi- 
tive, and  transition,  or  secondary  ?  This  question  has  often 
occurred  to  me  when  travelling  in  the  south  eastern  pai-t  of 
Massachusetts,  when  going  over  the  country  along  the 
Connecticut  in  Bernardston  and  its  vicinity,  when  descend- 
ing the  Hoosack  and  Green  Mountains  on  the  west,  and 
when  passing  over  the  country  west  of  New-Haven.  It 
such  be  the  fact  it  may,  when  it  occurs  in  the  geologist's 
tours,  be  a  warning  to  him  to  expect  a  change  iu  the  rocks 
in  place. 

Fact  relating  to  the  detachment  of  large  bozoldcf  stones  from 
their  bed. 

Deerfield  river  in  the  greater  part  of  its  course  is  a 
mountain  torrent,  very  rapid  and  powerful.  It  has  worn 
a  passage  often  four  hundred  feet  deep,  the  banks  being  al- 
most perpendicular.  Its  winter  floods  are  most  powerful 
in  effecting  this  work.  The  ice  freezes  three  or  four  feet 
thick,  and  when  a  sudden  rain  melts  the  snows  on  its  banks, 
it  rises  rapidly  and  lifts  up  and  urges  forward  with  tumultu- 
ous fury,  this  immense  body  of  ice.  As  the  banks  among 
the  mountains  are  steep  and  rocky,  they  prevent  the  ac- 
cumulation of  water  and  ice  from  spreading  to  the  right  or 
left,  and  it  is  raised  proportionally  higher  ;  and  thus  an  im- 
mense force  is  exerted  upon  obstacles  in  the  bottom  of  the 


86  Geologi/,  ^-c.  'of  the  Connecticut. 

stream,  which,  in  winter  floods,  is  filled  with  huge  masses 
of  ice  to  the  very  bottom. 

In  the  west  part  of  Shelburne  this  river  descends  a  cata- 
ract thirty  or  forty  feet  high.  The  rock  in  the  bottom  of 
the  river  is  an  aggregate  of  quartz  and  mica  with  horn- 
blende intermixed,  and  below  the  falls  it  is  unstratified,  al- 
most without  seams  and  very  hard.  Yet  here  we  might 
expect  the  force  of  the  torrent  would  be  most  powerful ; 
and  accordingly  we  find  masses  of  this  rock  from  one  to. 
ten  feet  in  diameter,  raised  from  their  bed,  and  some  of 
them  removed  down  the  stream  one  or  two  miles,  some  only 
a  few  rods,  and  I  saw  one  or  two  of  the  largest  but  just  be- 
ginning to  be  raised  from  their  bed.  Previous  to  viewing 
this  spot,  I  had  no  just  ideas  of  the  enormous  force  exerted 
by  a  mountain  torrent. 


GEOLOGY,  MINERALOGY,  TOPOGRAPHY,  &c. 


OF  THE  CONNECTICUT. 


PART  II, 


Simple  Minerals. 

Metallick  Veins  and  Beds. 

Before  giving  a  list  of  the  simple  minerals  found  along 
the  Connecticut,  it  may  perhaps  be  acceptable  to  the  geolo- 
gist, to  present  a  short  account  of  those  veins  and  beds  of 
ore,  that  occur  in  the  district,  which  either  have  been,  or 
may  be  wrought  as  mines. 

1 .  Southampton  Lead  Mine* 

This  is  a  vein  containing  sulphuret,  carbonate,  sulphate^ 
molybdate,  muriate  and  phosphate  of  lead,  with  blende,  py» 
ritous  copper,  &ic.     The  gangue  is  quartz,  with  sulphate 

*  For  a  description  of  thig  mine,  by  Professor  Silliman,  who  examined  it 
in  May  1810,  see  Bnicc's  Journal,  Vol  1,  p.  63. 

13 


88  Geology,  <^-c.  of  the  ConnecticuU 

of  barytes  and  fliior  spar  intermixed.  The  vein  declines  ten 
or  fifteen  degrees  from  a  perpendicular;  is  six  or  eight  feet 
in  diameter,  and  traverses  granite  and  other  primitive  rocks. 
It  has  been  observed  at  intervals  from  Montgomery  to  Hat- 
field, a  distance  of  twenty  miles  :  but  it  is  very  doubtful, 
whether  it  continues,  uninterruptedly,  the  whole  of  that  ex- 
lent;  indeed,  from  what  I  have  observed  of  other  lead  veins 
in  the  vicinity.  I  have  sometimes  been  disposed  to  ques- 
tion, w'hether  the  veins  observed  at  many  of  these  intervals, 
may  not  be  totally  distinct  from  one  another.  In  Southamp- 
ton, ei-ht  miles  south  west  from  Northampton,  is  the  only  spot 
where  this  vein  has  been  extensively  wrought.  In  that 
})!ace  it  has  been  explored  thirty  or  forty  rods  in  length,  to 
the  depth  of  forty  or  fifty  feet,  and  the  galena,  which  is  the 
principal  ore,  has  been  found  in  masses  from  a  quarter  of  an 
inch,  to  a  foot  in  diameter.  At  the  depth  above  mentioned, 
the  water  became  so  abundant,  that  it  was  thought  advisable 
to  abandon  a  perpendicular  exploration,  and  to  descend  to 
the  foot  of  a  hill  on  the  east,  nearly  eighty  rods  from  the  vein, 
and  attempt  a  horizontal  drift,  or  adit,  and  ever  since  its 
commencement,  seven  or  eipht  years  ago.  the  working  of 
the  vein  has  ceased.  This  drift  is  now  carried  into  the  hill, 
on  an  exact  level,  nearly  sixty  rods,  and  the  workmen  told 
me,  that  not  less  than  20,000  dollars  had  been  expended 
upon  it.  The  rocks  that  have  been  penetrated,  reckoning 
from  the  mouth  of  the  drift  inwards,  are  geest,  the  red  and 
gray  slates  of  the  coal  formation,  ("granulated  schistose  ag- 
gregate." Eaton.  Journal  of  Sci.  Vol.1,  p- 136,)  with  thin  beds 
of  coal,  and  mica  slate,  and  granite  alternating.  Probably 
the  fundamental  deposit  of  granite  is  now  uncovered ;  and 
the  principal  vein  of  galena  cannot  be  far  distant.  Several 
small  branch  veins  of  crystallized  quartz  and  galena  have 
been  crossed  ;  and  several  specimens  of  these,  collected  by 
Dr.  Hunt,  were  very  rich  and  beautiful  ;  the  crystals  of  pure 
galena  sometimes  exhibit,  on  their  faces,  insulated  crystals 
of  honey  coloured  carbonate  of  lime.  The  principal  vein 
will  be  found  not  less,  I  should  judge,  than  one  hundred  and 
fifty  feet  below  the  surface  : — and  when  that  time  comes,  it 
is  confidently  expected,  not  only  that  the  proprietors  will  be 
rewarded  for  the  great  expence  they  have  incurred,  but,  al- 
so, that  many  a  rich  specimen  will  be  found  to  ornament  the 


Geology,  ^'c.  of  the  Conneclicut.  89 

mineral  cabinets  of  oiu-  country,  and  to  vie  in  beauty  with 
the  lead  ores  of  Europe. 

The  mouth  of  this  drift  is  four  or  five  feet  wide,  and  about 
three  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  water.  The  water  is 
deep  enough,  the  whole  length  of  it,  to  admit  the  passage  of 
a  loaded  boat.  TJie  person  wishing  to  explore  this  internal 
canal,  must  fire  a  gun  at  the  entrance,  or  i^eat  heavily  with 
a  sledge  on  the  timbers  that  support  the  soil;  in  ten  or  fif- 
teen minutes  he  will  perceive  a  gentle  undulation  of  the  wa- 
ter, and  soon  after  a  boat  advancing  with  lighted  lamps  and 
a  rower;  having  seated  himself  on  the  bottom  of  this  boat, 
and  provided  himself  with  an  additional  garment,  he  is  pre- 
pared for  his  subterranean  expedition.  As  he  enters  the 
passage,  he  will,  for  a  moment,  experience,  or  imagine  he 
experiences,  a  little  difficulty  of  breathing.  But  he  will 
soon  become  reconciled  to  his  condition  ;  and  after  passing 
about  one  hundred  feet  in  the  excavation,  for  which  distance 
the  soil  is  supported  by  timbers,  he  will  find  occasionall}' 
more  room,  so  that  he  can  ^tand  erect.  If  he  looks  back, 
after  having  advanced  several  hundred  feet,  the  light  at  the 
entrance  will  appear  diminished  to  the  size  of  a  candle;  and 
before  he  reaches  the  extremity,  it  becomes  invisible.  About 
halfway  from  the  entrance  to  the  end  of  the  drift,  he  will 
pass  a  shaft ;  down  which  a  small  brook  is  turned,  for  the 
purpose  of  aiding  the  ventilator.  When  he  reaches  the 
end  of  the  drift,  he  finds  himself  to  have  penetrated  nearly 
sixty  rods  chiefly  into  solid  rock;  a  voyage  which  although 
inferior  to  that  performed  in  the  celebrated  navigation  mine, 
in  the  Peak  of  Derbyshire,  is  still  extremely  interesting. 

The  miners  do  not  quit  the  drift  when  they  blast ;  but  re- 
tire behind  a  breast  work  thrown  up  for  the  purpose.  En- 
teriiig  immediately  after  an  explosion,  I  did  not  perceive  the 
air  to  be  in  any  degree  more  oppressive  than  when  powder 
is  fired  above  ground.  One  man  told  me  that  he  had  been 
an  inmate  of  that  dark  recess,  eight  or  ten  years,  without 
suffering  in  his  health,  and  when  he  returned  alone  into  his 
dreary  prison  after  conducting  me  to  the  day  ligiit,  he  struck 
up  a  cheerful  song,  indicating  buoyant  spirits  and  a  content- 
ed mind. 

Every  mineralogist  passing  that  way,  will  of  course  visit 
this  drift.     Intelligent  gentlemen  without  professional  views, 


90  Geology,  S/c.  of  the  Connecticut. 

and  even  ladies  not  iinfrequently  enter  this  cavity,  and  find 
themselves  amply  repaid  for  their  trouble.* 

2.  Vein  of  Galena  in  Whately. 

This  occurs  in  the  north  west  part  of  the  town,  and  I  for- 
merly supposed  it  a  roniinuation  of  the  Southampton  vein. 
But  the  Southampton  vein  runs  north  east  and  south  west, 
and  this  in  Whately  almost  exactly  north  and  south.  Be- 
sides, the  Southampton  vein  must  turn  almost  at  right  angles 
from  Hatfield,  in  order  to  be  found  in  the  north  west  part  of 
Whately. 

This  vein  m;!y  be  traced  at  intervals  one  hundred  rods, 
and  extends  into  the  edge  of  Conway.  At  the  extremities 
it  traverses  mica  slate  ;  but  in  the  middle,  it  cuts  through  an 
extensive  bed  of  granite.  Its  diameter  is  usually  s-ix  or  sev- 
en feet,  and  the  gangue  is  wholly  common  and  radiated 
quartz.  Galena,  which  is  the  only  ore  found  in  this  vein, 
is  disseminated  through  this  matrix  in  considerable  abun- 
dance. Very  few  efforts  have  been  made  to  explore  this 
vein,  though  appearances  at  the  surface  are  not  unfavora- 
ble ;  and  if  a  horizontal  drift  were  necessary,  a  deep  valley 
within  a  few  rods  on  the  west,  would  afford  a  favourable  op- 
portunity for  making  it.  As  nearly  as  I  could  determine,  this 
vein  is  not  far  from  perpendicular  to  the  horizon. 

3.  Vein  of  Galena  in  Leverett. 

In  the.jsouth  west  part  of  the  town — traversing  granite — 
only  a  foot  wide — gangue,  sulphate  of  barytes — deviation 
north  and  south — galena  the  only  ore. 

4.    Vein  of  Galena,  Pyritous  Copper  and  Blende,  in  Leverett. 

About  two  miles  north  of  the  vein  last  mentioned;  and  it 
may  be  a  continuation  of  it.  The  gangue  is  quartz,  united 
with  sulphate  of  barytes  ;  and  the  galena  and  pyritous  cop- 
per are    disseminated  through  it  in  nearly  equal  quantities. 

*  I  have  often  thought  Professor  Cleaveland  must  have  selected  the  ap- 
propriate motto  prelixed  to  his  Mineralogy,  when  entering  this  or  some 
similar  drift. 

• itumest  in  viscera  terrae  i-c. 


Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut,  Q) 

The  blende  is  much  les's  abundant.  The  vein  is  several  feet 
wide,  traverses  mica  slate  and  granite,  and  has  been  conside- 
rably wrought. 

5.  Lead  Mine  at  Middletown. 

I  am  unacquanted  with  the  geological  situation  of  this 
mine.  1  put  ii  down  on  the  authority  of  Professor  Silliman 
in  Cleaveland's  Mineralogy. 

6.    Vein  of  Galena  at  Bethlehem. 

I  mention  this  on  the  same  authority  without  any  persoa- 
al  knowledge  of  it.  It  is,  however,  a  little  beyond  the  lim- 
its of  the  map. 

7.    Vein  of  Galena  and  Pyritous  Copper  in  Southington. 

Same  authority — gangue,  sulphate  of  barytes  and  quartz, 
I  believe  this  vein  occurs  in  the  coal  formation. 

8.  Mine  of  Galena,  Blende  and  Pyrites  in  Berlin* 

This  occurs  in  greenstone,  at  its  junction  with  the  coal 
formation.  The  gangue  is  sulphate  of  barytes.  The  galena 
crystals  are  small ;  those  of  the  blende  larger ;  th  >  pyrites  is 
the  least  abundant.  The  vein  is  not  now  wrought.  (Vide 
Dr.  PercivaPs  Notice,  Journal  of  Science,  Vol.  5.  p.  44.) 

Copper  Mines  and   Veins. 

It  has  already  been  mentioned,  in  the  geological  part  of 
this  sketch,  that  these  ores  (like  the  mine  of  galena  Sic.  last 
mentioned,)  exist  along  the  junction  of  the  greenstone  with 
the  coal  formation.  The  veins  frequently  pass  into  both 
rocks,  and  are  of  various  sizes  and  of  frequent  occurrence. 
Indeed,  they  may  be  found  probably  every  mile  or  two 
along  the  line,  where  these  rocks  unite.  A  few  of  them, 
that  have  obtained  some  notoriety  will  be  mentioned. 


92  Geology^  S/c.  of  the  Conneciicul. 


9.  Vein  of  Pyritous  Copper  and  Green  Carhonaic  of  Copper, 

at  Cheshire. 

In  greenstone  and  associated  with  sulphate  of  barytes, 
quartz,  carbonate  of  lime  and  sandstone.  (Silliman  in 
Cleavelaud's  Mineralog}-,  Vol.  2,  p.  569.) 

10.  Mine  of  the  Red  Oxide  of  Copper,  Green  Carbonate  of 

Copper,  ^'C.  Granhy. 

This  is  better  known  by  the  name  of  Simsbury  Mines  al- 
though it  occurs  within  the  boundaries  of  Granby.  It  was 
formerly  wrought,  but  being  at  length  abandoned,  its  shafts 
and  galleries  were  converted  into  a  state's  prison.  The 
mineralogist  who  explores  this  spot,  must  here  contemplate 
the  painful  spectacle  of  almost  every  variety  of  guilt  and  crime. 
Sixty  or  seventy  whites,  mulattoes  and  negroes,  scarcely 
distinguishable  through  filth,  from  one  another,  are  here  com- 
pelled by  the  point  of  the  bayonet  to  labour  at  the  anvil; 
while  we  read  in  their  sullen  and  ghastly  countenances,  the 
inward  w-orkings  of  hearts  rendered  desperate  by  crime 
and  punishment.  As  we  descend  into  the  shaft  we  observe 
the  offensive  recesses  in  the  rocks,  where  these  prisoners 
were  formerly  confined  during  the  night.  But  only  a  few 
of  the  most  refractory  are  now  compelled  to  sleep  in  these 
damp  and  dismal  dungeons;  the  government  of  Connecti- 
cut being  satisfied  that  this  kind  of  rigor  served  rather  to 
harden  than  to  reform  the  criminal.  About  seventy  feet  be- 
low the  surface,  the  conductor  pointed  out  to  me  a  bolt 
driven  into  a  wet  rock,  where,  recently,  one  of  the  prison- 
ers had  been  fastened  for  a  week  or  fortnight,  as  an  extra 
punishment  for  peculiar  obstinacy;  and  where  he  lay,  I  saw 
scattered,  the  leaves  of  a  bible,  which,  in  his  desperation  he 
had  torn  in  pieces: — thus  spurning  alike  the  laws  of  God 
and  man ! 

If  we  judge  from  the  present  appearance  of  this  excava- 
tion the  original  vein  of  ore  must  have  been  extremely  ir- 
regidar,  forming  bellies  and  f7vilchrs.  It  passes  through  the 
greenstone  and  enters  the  red  and  gray  micaceous  sand- 
stone of  the  coal  formation,  which  underlies  the  greenstone. 
All  the  varieties  of  ore  I  saw  at  the  place  were  the  red  ox- 


Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut.  93 

ide  disseminated  in  sandstone,  and  mixed  with  a  small  pro- 
portion of  green  carbonate  of  copper.  How  productive  tliis 
mine  has  been,  I  do  not  know. 

1 1 .   Vtin  of  Green  Carbonate  of  Copper  and  Pyritous  Copper 
in  Greenfield  Mass. 

This  is  found  on  the  west  bank  of  Connecticut  River, 
one  hundred  rods  below  the  mouth  of  Fall  river,  and  about 
the  same  distance  in  a  direct  line  from  Turner's  Falls.  It 
occurs  at  the  junction  of  the  greenstone  and  red  slate  of  the 
coal  formation,  and  passes  obliquely  into  the  hill  of  green- 
stone on  the  one  side,  and  into  the  slate  on  the  other  in  the 
bed  of  the  river.  The  principal  vein  is  five  or  six  feet  in 
diameter,  and  the  matrix,  toadstone,  which  is  traversed, 
in  the  direction  of  the  vein,  by  several  veins  of  sulphate  of 
barytes,  which  form  saalhandes.  The  principal  ore  that 
appears  at  the  surface  is  the  green  carbonate,  the  pyritous 
copper  being  rarer. 

12.  A  similar  vein  in  the  same  township. 

About  a  mile  below  the  vein  just  described,  (down  the 
stream,)  is  another,  which  I  am  told  is  very  similar  and 
therefore  needs  no  description.  In  other  places  between 
these  veins,  I  have  noticed,  in  the  red  slate,  veins  of  the 
green  carbonate  of  copper,  not  more  than  a  quarter  of  an 
inch  thick,  while  the  walls  are  glazed  so  as  to  resemble  pol- 
ished steel ;  constituting  handsome  specimens  of  the  Slick- 
i.m^ide  of  the  Germans. 

Mines,  Veins,  and  Beds  of  Iron  Ore. 

13.  Micaceous  Iron  Ore  in  Veins,  i-n  Montague. 

Near  the  north  line  of  the  town,  a  little  south  west  of  the 
mouth  of  Miller's  river,  a  granitic  hill  of  considerable  extent 
and  elevation  is  traversed  by  veins  of  this  ore  in  all  direc- 
tions; constituting  one  vast  stock  iverke.  The  principal  vein 
is  nearly  ten  feet  in  diameter,  and  the  gangue  is  quartz.  I 
do  not  see  why  this  ore  could  not  be  profitably  wrought.  See 
Journal  of  Science,  Vol.  1,  p.  438,  where  this  ore  is  descri- 
bed under  the  general  name  of  specular  oxide  of  iron. 


94  Geology,  ^c,  of  the  Connecticut. 


14.  Mint  of  Magnetic  and  Micaceous  Oxide  of  Iron,  in  Haw 

ley. 

This  exists  in  the  north  western  part  of  the  town,  in  beds, 
in  talcose  slate.  The  foha  of  the  slate  are  nearly  perpen- 
dicular to  the  horizon,  and  the  principal  bed  of  the  ore  va- 
ries from  six  inches  to  three  or  four  feet  in  thickness,  and 
numerous  thin  beds  occur  at  the  sides.  The  mine  has  been 
opened  twenty  or  thirty  rods  lortg,  and  thirty  or  forty  deep. 
The  magnetic  oxide  is  probably  most  abundant :  but  the 
micaceous  oxide  has  not  till  lately  been  wrought,  through 
an  impression  that  it  could  not  be  smelted !  One  or  two  tons 
of  it  lie  beside  the  mine  ready  for  the  mineralogist.  I  have 
never  seen  any  ore  of  this  sort,  that  will  bear  any  comparison 
for  beauty  and  richness  of  appearance  with  this.  It  has  a 
schistose,  gently  undulating  structure,  and  plates  of  it  may 
be  easily  obtained,  a  foot  in  diameter,  possessing  a  highly 
glistening  aspect.  But  it  is  no  very  easy  matter  to  get  at 
this  mine,  on  account  of  the  extreme  roughness  of  the  coun- 
try for  several  miles  around  it. 

15.  Mine  of  Magnetic  and  Micaceous  Oxide  of  Iron,  in  Ber- 

nardston. 

This  occurs  in  beds  in  talco-argillite,  and  is  so  similar  to 
the  last  described,  that  additional  remarks  are  unnecessary. 
I  do  not  know  to  what  extent  it  has  been  wrought. 

16.  Vein  of  Micaceous  Oxide  of  Iron,  in  Jamaica  in  Vermont. 

This  exists  in  dolomite,  and  is  very  beautiful.  It  has  been 
used  as  a  substitute  for  smalt,  and  answers  well.  I  do  not 
know  its  extent.  It  is  a  few  miles  beyond  the  northern  lim- 
its of  the  map. 

17.  Mine  of  the  Brown  Oxide  of  Iron,  in  Salisbury  in  Con- 

neciicut. 

This,  as  well  as  the  two  following  mines,  occurs  a  consid- 
erable distance  beyond  the  limits  of  the  map.  I  merely  men- 
tion them,  however,  because  of  their  interesting  nature  j  and 


Geology,  ^c.  of  the  ConnecticuU  95 

In  giving  a  list  of  the  simple  minerals,  I  do  not  intend  to  be 
scrupulously  confined  to  the  region  embraced  by  the  map. 
This  mine  is  wrought  in  a  bed  in  clay.  For  further  partic- 
ulars see  Prof  Silliman''s  account  of  liiis  ore,  in  the  Journal 
of  Science,  Vol.  II.  p.  212. 

18.  Mine  of  the  same  ore,  in  Kent,  in  Connecticut. 

This  is  found,  like  the  last,  in  a  bed  in  clay.  See  Vol. 
II.  of  the  Journal  of  Science,  p.  216. 

19.  Mine  of  Carbonate  of  Iron,  in  Kew-Milford,  in  Connecti- 

cut. 

This  exists  in  a  vein,  in  gneiss  ;  and  its  gangue  is  qaart/. 
See  Journal  of  Science,  Vol.  II.  p.  226. 

20.  Bed  of  Bog  Iron  Ore,  in  Kew-Braintree,  in  Massstchn 

setts. 

This  ore  is  not  uncommon  along  the  Connecticut;  but  I 
have  never  examined  a  bed  of  it,  except  in  New-Braintree, 
in  Massachusetts.  It  lies  in  a  valley,  in  a  country  of  gneiss, 
only  a  few  feet  below  the  surface ;  and  has  been  explored 
to  a  considerable  extent. 

21.  Mine  of  Arsenical  Cobalt,  in  Chatham,  in  Connecti- 
cut. 

It  exists  in  a  bed,  in  mica  slate,  varying  in  width  from  a 
few  inches  to  a  few  feet.  The  matrix  is  a  mixture  of  horn- 
blende and  actynolite,  in  which  the  ore  is  disseminated.  It 
was  explored  several  years  since,  and  has  been  again  open- 
ed recently;  the  undertaking  is  now,  however,  abandoned. 
Arsenical  sulphuret  of  iron,  arsenical  nickel,  and  arseniate 
of  cobalt  are  found  in  this  mine  in  small  quantities. 


r4 


90  Geology,  &/■€.  of  the  Connecticut. 

22.  Mine  of  Bismidh,  Silver,  Argentiferous  a7id  Common 
Galena,  Blende,  Tungsten,  Tellurium,  JMagnetical  and 
Comrfion  Pyrites,  Spathic  Iron,  Native  Sulphur,  Pyrilous 
Copper,  ^c.  in  Huntington,  in  Connecticut. 

The  various  minerals  mentioned  above,  have  been 
found  in  a  vein  traversing  gneiss,  although  it  has  yet 
been  explored  only  a  few  feet  in  depth.  The  gangue 
is  quartz.  For  a  more  particular  description  of  this  in- 
teresting spot,  see  various  articles  by  Professor  Silliman,  in 
the  first  five  volumes  of  the  Journal  of  Science. 

In  the  above  enumeration  several  small  and  unimportant 
veins  of  ore  have  been  omitted  ;  and  probably  many  impor- 
tant ones  are  yet  undiscovered  In  some  instances  I  have 
met  with  men  who  prx)fess  to  have  found  beds  or  veins  of 
ore,  but  will  not  disclose  the  spot,  because  they  intend  to 
vender  themselves  independent  by  their  discoveries.  In- 
deed, were  the  mineralogist  to  pay  attention  to  all  he  will 
hear  on  this  subject  in  his  travels,  he  would  be  led  to  sup- 
pose that  every  town,  and  even  every  farm,  is  a  rich  reposi- 
tory of  metals.  For  he  will  often  be  told,  how  in  such  a 
mountain  the  aborigines  used  to  obtain  iron,  lead  or  silver; 
or  how,  in  such  a  place,  the  lightning  frequently  strikes,  as 
a  certain  indication  of  metallic  ores;  or  how  in  such  a  place 
the  minrral  rodzui/l  work;  and  a  thousand  such  mummeries, 
by  which  honest  but  credulous  men  are  frequently  deluded, 
and  sometimes  ruined. 

List  of  Simple  Minerals  found  along  the  Connecticut. 

I  have  already  remarked,  that  in  giving  this  list,  I  should 
not  be  confined  precisely  to  the  limits  of  the  map;  but 
where  an  interesting  mineral  has  been  found  a  few  miles  be- 
yond these,  I  shall  notice  it.  I  shall  annex  to  each  species 
and  variety,  merely  the  localities  and  name  of  the  discover- 
er, except  in  cases  where  lam  able  to  add  some  particulars 
not  heretofore  published.  To  save  all  further  trouble  of 
reference,  I  have  taken  the  second  edition  of  Cleaveland's 
Mineralogy  as  a  standard  for  names  and  arrangement.  And, 
indeed,  I  feel  as  if  a  better  disposition  of  minerals  could 
scarcely  be  made,  in  the  present  state  of  the  science,  than 
that  excellent  work  presents. 


Geology,  ^-c.  of  the  Curnieclkut.  97 

The  species  and  sub-species  are  numbered  in  order 
from  first  to  last.  The  varieties  also,  whenever  they  occur, 
are  usually  numbered. 

1.  Nitrate  of  Potash.  Efflorescing  on  the  soil  under  old 
buildings,  Sic.  • 

2.  Sulphate  of  Barytcs.  At  Cheshire,  Southington.  Far- 
mington,  New-Stratford,  and  two  miles  from  Hartford.  (Sil- 
liman.)  Also  at  Berlin.  {Percival.)  Also  at  Hatfield. 
(Gorham.)  Also  at  Middlefield.  (Eaton.)  Also  at  South- 
ampton lead-mine,  at  the  Leverett  lead  veins,  and  at  the 
Greenfield  copper  veins.  At  the  three  last  meniioned  pla- 
ces it  is  chiefly  the  lamellar  variety. 

3.  Calcareous  Spar. 

1.  Crystallised.  At  the  Marble  Quarry  in  Milford,  in 
rhombic  crystals;  also  in  the  lead  mine  at  Middletown. 
(Silliman.)  Also  at  the  lead  mine  in  Southampton,  in  lim- 
pid and  straw-colored  crystals  on  galena  and  quartz.  Forms 
of  the  crystals.  1.  A  dodecaedron,  composed  of  two  six- 
sided  pyramids,  applied  base  to  base,  {hog-tooth  spar.).  2. 
A  short  six-sided  prism,  terminated  by  three-sided  pyra- 
mids. 3.  The  same,  with  all  the  solid  angles  of  the  prism 
truncated ;  forming  a  crystal  of  twenty -four  faces.  Also,  in 
greenstone  in  Deerfield  and  Greenfield ;  and  in  a  coarse 
limestone  in  Leyden,  Conway,  he.  in  rhombs. 

2.  Laminated.  At  Milford  Hills.  {Silliman.)  Also,  in 
veins  in  greenstone,  Deerfield. 

4.  Granular  Limestone.  At  Milford  Hill,  embracing  the 
bed  of  Verd  Antique  Marble.  {Sillunan.)     In  Wilmington, 

Vt.? 

5.  Concreted  Carbonate  of  Lime, 

1.  Calcareous  Incrustations.  In  the  Coal  Formation  in 
Sunderland,  &c. 


98  Geology,  fyc.  of  the  Connecticut. 

6.  Argentine.  At  Washington,  Litchfield  Co.  {Brace.) 

7.  J\Iag7iesian  Carbonate  of  Lime, 

1.  Crystalyzed.  (Rhomb  Spar.)  Near  New-Haven,  with 
abestus  in  Serpentine.  [Stllinian.)  Abundant  at  the  Milford 
Marble  Quarry.  Also  at  Middletiekl,  in  Soapstone.  {Dew 
ey.)     Also  at  Southampton  lead  mine.  {Eaton.) 

2.  Dolomite.  At  Washington  and  Milford  Hills.  {Silli' 
man.)  Also  at  Litchfield.  {Brace.)  Also  at  Middlefield. 
{Dewey.)  Also  at  Jamaica,  in  Vermont.   {J.  A.  Allen.) 

8.  Brown  Spar.  At  Leverelt,  in  a  vein  of  galena,  pyrites, 
copper  and  blende,  grouped  in  rhombic  crystals  on  quartz; 
the  lamellae  usually  curved. 

9.  Fetid  Carbonate  of  Lime.  AtNorthford.  {Silliman.) 

10.  Bituminous  Carbonate  of  Lime.  Near  Middletown, 
with  Ichthyolites.  {Silliman.)  Also  at  Southington,  in  the 
Coal  Formation. 

11.  Phosphate  of  Lime. 

I.  Apatite.  At  Milford  Hills.  {Silliman.) 

12.  Filiate  of  Lime.  Cubic  and  massive  fluor  spar  occurs 
in  Huntington — also  chlorophane  in  the  same  place.  {Silli- 
man.) Also  at  Middletown.  in  the  lead,  he.  vein.  {Brace.) 
Also  at  Southampton  lead  mine,  green  and  purple.  {Gibbs.) 
Also  at  Deerfield,  crystallized  in  dodecaedrons.''  purple — in 
a  loose  stone,  which  contained  also  a  crystal  of  galena.  {Coo- 
ley.)  Also  at  Putney,  massive  and  grass  green,  forming  a 
vein  in  bastard  mica  slate.  {Silliman.)  Also  at  Westmore- 
land, light  green.  {Hall.)  Also  at  Conway,  massive,  light 
green,  in  small  quantities  in  a  vein  in  mica  slate. 

13.  Gypsum.  In  amygdaloidal  greenstone  in  Deerfield, 
in  small  quantities;  "crystallized — white,  and  retaining  its 
water  of  crystallization.''  Found  by  Dr.  Cooley,  and  de- 
termint  d  by  Professor  Silliman.  This  has  been  already 
mentioned  in  the  geological  part  of  this  sketch. 


Geology.,  ^-c.  of  the  Connecticut.  99 


14.  Sulphate  of  Alumine  and  Potash.  (Alum.)  In  Ley- 
deii,  efflorescing  on  bastard  argillite.  Also  in  Conway,  on 
mica  slate. 

J  5.  Common  Quartz. 

1.  Limpid  Quartz.  At  Grafton  in  Vermont,  remarkably 
pure.  [Hall.)  Also  at  Pia.nfield.  {J.  Porter.)  Also  in  the 
veins  of  lead,  &c.  at  Soutbauipton  and  Leverett,  and  the 
copper  veins  in  Greenfield,  in  six-sided  prisms.  At  the  lat- 
ter place  it  occurs  with  both  the  terminations  perfect.  Also 
in  veins  in  sienitic  granite,  at  Northampton.  Also  in  ge- 
odes  in  greenstone  at  New-Haven,  Berlin  and  Deerfield. 
Also  in  veins  and  geodes  from  one  to  ten  inches  diameter, 
in  mica  slate  in  Conway.  The  crystals  are  of  every  size 
from  one  tenth  of  an  inch  to  two  inches  diameter,  and  occur 
in  vast  quantities.  In  the  same  town  fragments  of  crystals 
occur,  as  transparent  as  the  quartz  from  Madagascar. 

2.  Smoky  Quartz.  At  Torrington  and  Cornwall.  (Brace.) 
Also  at  Plainfield  and  Brattleborough  ?  amorphous. 

3.  Yellow  Quartz.  In  crystals  at  the  Southampton  lead 
mine;  of  a  honey  yellow,  resembhng  the  Siberian  topaz, 
Th<?  coloring  matter  appears  to  penetrate  the  crystals.  Al- 
so in  small  quantities  at  the  lead  mine  in  Leverett. 

4.  Rose-Red  Quartz.  At  Southbury,  very  abundant.  (Sil- 
liman.)  Also  atChatham  and  East- Haddam.  {T.D.Porter.) 
Also  at  Deerfield  ;  a  single  specimen  in  alluvial  soil. 

5.  Irised  Quartz.  At  Plainfield.  (J.  Porter.)  Also  at 
Lryden,  in  mica  slate. 

6.  Milky  Quartz.  At  Litchfield.  {Brace.)  Also  at  Cum- 
mington  and  Plainfield.  {J.  Porter.)  The  specimens  that 
I  have  seen  of  this  variety  (and  they  are  scattered  abundant- 
ly over  the  mica  slate  region  west  of  Connecticut  river,)  are 
rather  poorly  characterized,  seeming  to  be  intermediate  be- 
tween limpid  and  milky  quartz. 


100  Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut, 

7.  Radiated  Quartz.  In  the  Southampton,  Whately  and 
Leverett  veins  of  galena  ;  in  abundance.  Also  in  Conway, 
in  veins  and  loose  masses. 

8.  Tabidar  Quartz.  In  s;reenstone,  Deerfield — Lamellae 
usually  applied  to  one  another  by  their  broader  faces,  and 
separating  as  thin  as  mica,  but  very  brittle.  Sometimes 
they  intersect  and  produce  cells  of  various  forms.  Also  in 
Conway,  in  large  loose  masses  among  mica  slate.  Pieces 
more  than  a  foot  in  diampte'-  have  been  noticed,  having  both 
t^e  structures  above  mentioned.  The  plates  forming  the 
cells  are  sometimes  covered  on  their  broader  faces  with  mi- 
nute quartz  crystals.  In  some  specimens  there  is  a  gradation 
from  tabulir  to  common  amorphous  quartz;  the  folia  becom- 
ing less  and  less  distinct,  and  finally  disappearing. 

9.  Gramdar  Quartz.  At  Vernon,  Vermont,  forming  a 
bed  in  argillite.  {J.  J.  Allen.) 

10.  Pseudomorphous  Quartz.  At  the  Southampton  lead 
mine  and  in  Deerfield  greenstone — the  impressions  being 
cubical.  At  the  latter  lo  .ality  also,  a  very  curious  variety  of 
this  mineral  occurs.  The  quartz  is  the  common  limpid 
kind;,  passitig,  however,  income  parts,  into  chalcedony; 
and  it  contains  numerous  cavities  that  diverge  from  a  centre. 
Their  form  is  that  of  a  four-sided,  nearly  rectangular  prism, 
generally  a  little  flattened,  and,  of  course,  lessening  to  a 
point  at  one  end.  Their  length  is  from  half  an  inch  to  four 
inches.  A  complete  sphere  is  seldom  filled  by  them;  usu- 
ally not  more  than  a  quarter  part  of  it;  and  at  their  outer 
extremity  they  are  so  scattered  as  not  to  fill  half  the  surface 
of  the  sphere.  I  have  sometimes  observed  these  cavities 
proceeding  from  different  centres,  crossing  one  another. 
Although  it  is  no  uncommon  thing  to  meet  with  these  cavi- 
ties, yet  I  have  never  found  any  mineral  occupying  them. 
An  interesting  question  then  occurs ;  by  what  were  they 
once  occupied?  The  probability  is,  that  it  was  some  vari- 
ety of  zeolite.  Yet  no  zeolite  of  this  description  has  been 
found  in  the  greenstone  in  the  vicinity.  It  exists  in  balls 
perfectly  filled;  the  crystals  usually  circular,  and  the  con- 
cretion never  much  larger  than  a  musket  ball.  But  the  zeo- 
lite, it  is  well  known,  does  occur  in  radiated  masses  several 


Geology.)  <J*c  of  the  Conntcticut.  101 

inches  in  diameter,  the  outer  extremity  of  which  presents 
the  form  of  the  pri-m.  I  am  rather  disposed  to  beheve  that 
these  cavities  were  once  filled  by  a  mineral  not  differing 
much  from  the  Thomsonite  of  Dumbarton  in  Scotland. 

Some  varieties  of  quartz  occur  along  the  primitive  region 
of  the  Connecticut  that  can  hardly  be  referred  to  any  of  the 
preceding  Thus,  there  is  a  variety  very  abundant  in  beds 
and  tuberculous  masses  in  mica  slate  and  argillite,  which 
diff  IS  in  nothing  from  limpid  quartz,  except  that  it  is  color- 
ed cri  nson  red  ;  and  perhaps  it  ought  to  be  referred  to  fer- 
ruginous quartz;  but  it  diff  rs  from  that  commonly  so  cal- 
led. Another  variety  is  abundant  every  where,  in  large 
rolled  masses,  of  a  reddish  grey  color  when  broken,  with  a 
chonchoidal  uneven  fracture — the  structure  beini.'  almost 
granular,  and  the  aspect  considerably  like  hornstone.  Anoth- 
er variety,  more  rare,  occurring  in  pudding  stone,  is  of  a 
light  blue  color,  and  scarcely  translucent;  but  it  can  hard- 
ly be  called  the  blue  quartz  of  mineralogi?ts.  Another  va- 
ritty  is  found  in  granite  and  in  loose  masses,  and  is  nearly 
black,  and  only  semi-transparent.  Another  variety  has  a 
tinge  of  \ellow — another  of  green,  &,c. 

16.  Amethyst.  At  Wallingford,  Farmington,  Berlin  and 
East-Haven.  Also  at  Mount  Tom  in  East-Hampton.  {Sil- 
liman.)  Also  in  greenstone,  Deerfield,  forming  geodes  of 
a  light  purple;  crystals  from  one  tenth  of  an  inch  to  an  inch 
in  diameter.  Also  in  Westminster,  Vermont,  in  crystals  an 
inch  and  an  half  in  diameter. 

17.  Ferruginous  Quartz.  At  Litchfield.   (Brace.) 

18.  Fetid  Quartz.  I  have  recently  found  this  in  several 
places,  from  Woodbridge,  near  New-Haven,  to  Bellows- 
Falls  in  New-Hampshire,  a  distance  of  one  hundred  and 
iifty  miles,  in  loose  rolled  masses.  In  the  vicinity  of  Con- 
way it  is  very  abundant,  and  occurs  crystallized  in  the  com- 
mon six-ssded  prisms ;  which  are  sometimes  so  flattened  as 
to  be  three  times  as  broad  as  thick.  In  Conway  it  occurs 
in  veins  in  mica  slate  and  granite  ;  less  fetid,  however,  than 
that  which  is  found  loose  on  the  surface.  It  is  traversed 
by  thin  seams,  or  veins,  apparently  ferruginous;  its  color  is 
nearly  milk  white  and  its  lustre  a  little  resinous.  In  some 
specimens  the  fetid  odour  is  very  strong. 


/ 


102  Geology,  i^rc.  of  the  Connecticut, 


19.  Chalcedony, 

1.  Common  Chalcedony.  At  East-Haven,  in  greenstone. 
{Silliman.)  Also  in  the  same  rock  at  Southington,  Far- 
mington,  Hadley,  Sunderland,  Deerfield,  Greenfield,  Gill, 
and  indeed,  in  almost  every  greenstone  hillock  and  ridge 
from  New-Haven  to  Gill.  Its  color  is  light  grey,  deep  grey, 
brownish,  yellowish  and  greenish  grey;  it  occurs  botryoi- 
dal,  mammillary,  cylindrical  and  reniform,  and  is  often  of  a 
cloudy  or  milky  appearance,  and  frequently,  strongly  trans- 
lucent. 

2.  Cacholong.  In  greenstone,  Deerfield.  It  is  associated 
with  common  chalcedony,  and  frequently,  envelopes  it,  or 
constitutes  some  of  the  bands  of  agates.  Its  color  is  milk 
or  yellowish  white. 

3.  Carnelian.  In  greenstone,  Deerfield.  United  with 
common  chalcedony  and  cacholong,  into  which  it  passes. 
Its  color  is  usually  pale  or  yellowish  red.  It  is  not  abundant. 
Also  at  East-Haven. 

4.  Sardonyx?  Some  specimens  of  the  carnelian  in  Deer- 
field greenstone,  being  reddish  yellow  and  oran2;e,  appear 
to  belong  to  this  variety;  but  it  occurs  in  so  small  quantities 
as  hardly  to  be  worth  noticing. 

Agate.  This  occurs  at  East-Haven  and  Deerfield  ;  and 
as  it  is  composed  of  varieties  of  chalcedony  and  quartz,  this 
seems  to  be  the  proper  place  to  notice  it.  A  description  of 
a  part  of  the  agates  occurring  in  these  localities  has  alre:ady 
been  given  with  sufficient  minuteness  in  the  American  Jour- 
nal of  Science,  and  in  Cioaveland's  Mineralogy.  But  since 
the  publication  of  those  accounts.  Dr.  Dennis  Cooley  has 
discova-ed  a  new  locality  in  the  Deerfield  greenstone,  from 
which  ne  has  obtained  specimens  so  mu(  h  superior  to  those 
heretofore  found  that  they  deserve  a  particular  notice.  The 
followii^^  is  a  description  of  specimens  in  his  possession. 

No.  %  Longer  diameter  of  the  face  of  the  agate,  nine 
inches — shorter  diameter,  six  inches  Outer  zone,  i;reenish 
chalcedony,  half  an  inch  broad.     Second  zone  chalcedony, 


Gtology,  ^-c.  of  ihe  Conructicut.  103 

a  little  tinged  with  red,  a  quarter  of  an  inch  broad.  The  cen- 
tre is  occupied  by  an  amethystine  <;eode  of  a  light  i)ur|)le. 
)Veight  of  the  whole  agate,  iwenty-ihree  pounds. 

No.  2.  Face  seven  inches  by  four — Outer  band,  one 
fourth  of  an  inch  wide,  of  yellowish  red  carnelian  ;  second 
band  greyish  white  chalcedony,  one  fourth  of  an  inch.  The 
remainder  of  the  space  is  occupied  by  a  geode  of  limpid 
quartz.  The  outer  coat  of  carnelian  is  broken  off  from  a 
large  part  of  this  specimen,  leaving  bare  the  whi  ish  chalce- 
dony, and  it  has  a  strong  resemblance  to  the  human  crani- 
um ;  exhibiting  similar  protuberances  and  concavities. 

No.  3.  Face  three  inches  in  diameter — outer  band  ol  yellow- 
ish red  carnelian — second  do.  chalcedony  a  little  tinged  with 
red,  one  tenth  of  an  inch — third  do.  cacholong,  one  tenth 
of  an  inch — fourth  do.  light  carnelian,  one  tenth  of  an  inch. 
The  centre  is  occupied  by  common  quariz,  not  forming  a 
geode. 

No.  4.  As  it  appears  at  one  end  :  Diameter  of  the  face 
three  inches — outer  zone  three  fourths  of  an  inch  thick,  of 
yellowish  green  chalcedony — second  do.  carnelian,  one 
fourth  of  an  inch — third  do.  quaitz,  having  a  greasy  aspect 
— fourth  do.  dark  grey  translucent  chalcedony,  a  mere  line 
in  thickness — fifth  do.  quartz  or  milk  colored  chalcedony, 
one  tenth  of  an  inch — sixth  do.  dark  grey  chalcedony,  a  line 
broad — seventh  do.  quartz,  one  fiftieth  of  an  inch — eight  do. 
dark  grey  chalcedony,  a  line  broad — ninth  do.  quartz,  one 
tenth  of  an  inch — tenth  do.  chalcedony,  a  line  broad — elev- 
venh  do.  quartz,  one  fiftieth  of  an  inch — twelfth  do.  a  line 
of  chalcedony — thirteenth  do.  quartz,  one  thirtieth  of  an 
inch — fourteenth  do.  a  line  of  chalcedony.  The  centre  is 
occupied  by  limpid  quartz.  This  is  a  fortif  cation  agate, 
and  the  parallelism  of  the  several  bands  is  most  exactly 
preserved,  and  the  angles  are  perfect.  Viewed  on  a  face 
at  right  angles  to  that  above  described,  this  specimen  exhib- 
its a  striped  or  ribband  agate. 

No.  5.  Made  up  of  an  almost  countless  number  of  dark- 
er and  lighter  colored  bands  of  whiteand  grey  chalcedony 
— two  or  three  small  agates  appearing   on  the  same   face. 

15 


/ 


104  Geologi/,  c^c.  of  the  Connecticul. 

This  appears  \q  be  a  real  ch  alec  don  ij  x ;  and  such  specimens 
are  not  uncommon. 

No  6.  Fortification  and  Etjrd  Agates,  in  the  same  speci- 
men. One  of  tlie  later  is  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  has  six 
or  seven  zones  of  hghtrr  and  darker  c!ialcedony  and  one  of 
carnelian,  enveloping  a  nucleus  of  light  blue  chalcedony. 

These  specimens  seem  to  want  nothing  but  a  polish  to 
make  them  equal  to  any  in  the  splenrlid  cabinet  in  New- 
Haven.  The  rock  in  which  they  occur  i-  not  strictly  amyg- 
daloidal,  but  contains  only  a  few  large  cavities;  and  so  firm- 
ly are  the  agates  fastened  into  iheir  bed  that  one  is  often 
obliged  to  brt^ak  them  out  by  piecemeal ;  thus  ruining  the 
most  superb  specimens.  The  larger  ones  are  not  very  abun- 
dant. The  rock,  however,  has  not  been  penetrated  very 
far. 

20.  Siliceous  Sinter.  At  East-H -ddam,  in  gneiss  and  in- 
crusting  raica  siate.    (T.  D.  Porter  and  Webster.) 

21.  Opal.  "Common  opal  has  been  found  in  Litchfield, 
though  rarely."  (Brace.) 

22.  Flint.  Near  Nevi'-Haven  and  in  Woodbridge,  in  roll- 
ed masses.   [Silliman.) 

23.  Hornslone.  At  Litchfield.  (Brace.)  At  the  Southamp- 
ton lead  mine  ;  also  in  Conway.  Also  in  greenstone  at 
Southington  and  Deerfield  At  the  latter  place  it  occau's  in 
nodules  often  four  or  five  inches  in  diameter.  Its  colors  are 
grey,  green,  black  with  a  tinge  of  red,  and  dark  blue.  Its 
fracture  is  sometimes  a  little  chonchoidal  and  glistening, 
sometimes  dull  and  splintery;  and  it  is  scarcely  translucent 
at  the  edges.  Some  specimens  considerably  resf-mble  sili- 
ceous slate,  and  otliers  appear  like  prase.  But  Professors 
Silliman  and  Dev.ey  (the  latter  of  whom  has  examined  it 
chemically,)  agree  in  calling  it  hornstone.  Also  in  Sunder- 
land in  greenstone,  in  narrow  veins — well  characterised. 

24.  Jasper.  Near  New-Haven  in  rolled  masses.  (Gibbs.) 
Also  at  Cummington  on  the  banks  of  Westfield  river-  (/. 
Porter.)     Also  on  the  banks  of  Deerfield  river  in  Deerfield, 


Geology,  ^~c.  of  the  Connecticut.  105 

and  in  Conway,  Leyden,  &£c.  in  rolled  fragments,  red,  black 
and  yellow. 

25.  Corundum.  At  Litchfield,  massive  and  in  six-sided 
prisms,  imbedded  in  niHSsive  sappar.  {Brace.) 

26.  Cycmite.  At  Litchfield,  Harwinton,  Watertown  and 
near  New-Haven.  (Stlliman.)  At  tne  former  place  a  mass 
of  this  mineral,  associated  with  talc,  sulphuret  of  iron  and 
corundum,  is  supposed  to  weigh  one  thousand  five  hundred 
pounds.  (Brace.)  Also  at  Middle-Haddara.  (Eaton.)  Al- 
so at  Chesterfield,  Mass.  in  loose  masses  in  mica  slate; 
where  its  bladed  or  imperfect  prisms  are  two  feet  long. 
(Hunt.)  Also  at  Granville.  (Drw^y.)  Also  at  Plainfield. 
(./.  Porter.)  Also  at  Grafton,  Vermont,  and  Charlestown, 
New-Hampshire.  (Hall.)  Alr^o  at  Bellov\s  Falls.  (Silli- 
niaa.)     Also  at Deerfield,  in  mica  slate.  (Williams.) 

27.  Slaurotide.  At  Bolton,  East-Hartford,  Beacon-Hill, 
Litchfield,  Harwinton  and  Chatham.  (Silliman,  Brace,  Ea- 
ton and  Woodhridge.)  Also  at  Cummington.  (/.  Porter.) 
Also  at  Bellows  Falls.  (Hall.)  The  range  of  mica  slate  in 
which  this  minei'al  is  found  in  Bolton,  Chatham,  &:c.  extends, 
with  little  interruption,  into  New-Hamj'shire  and  Vermont, 
at  least  as  far  as  Bellows  Falls;  and  its  aspect  is  very  simi- 
lar throughout,  and  scarcely  a  mile  of  the  distance  is  it  want- 
ing in  stam'otido;  or  rather,  wherever  1  have  crossed  it,  (in 
perhaps  fifty  places  )  this  mineral  occurs  ;  as  in  Vernon, 
where  it  is  in  vast  quantities,  in  North-Will)raham,  Ludlow, 
Shutesbury,  Leverett,  Northford,  Hinsdale,  Chesterfield, 
Putney,  Westminster,  Sir.  In  Chesterfield,  New-Hamp- 
shire, Dr.  J.  A,  Allen  found  crystals  an  inch  and  one  fourth 
in  diameter,  and  two  inches  and  an  half  lony,  in  the  valley 
south-west  of  the  meeting-house.  A  raii^e  of  similar  mica 
slate  extends  through  Chesterfield,  Mass.  into  Cummington, 
Plainfield,  Hawley,  kc.  and  here  also  stuurotide  occurs  in 
abundance.  In  Chesterfield  I  noticed  a  mica  slate  rock, 
two  or  three  feet  thick,  containing  seven  or  eight  distinct 
layers  of  this  mineral. 

28.  Pinite.  At  Haddam.  in  mica  slate  and  p'anite.  (Sil- 
liman and  Webster.)     Also  at  Bellows  Falls.  (Hall.) 


105  Gco/oiry,  4'-<"-  of  the  Connecticut. 

29.  Chrysoberyl.  At  Haddam,  on  both  sides  of  the  river, 
ill  six-sided  prisms  and  six-sided  tables,  in  granite.  (Cribbs.) 

00.  Zircon.  At  Sharon,  Litchfield  county,  in  quartz. 
{Silliman.)     Also  at  Brinitield,  in  gneiss.    (Eaton.) 

31.  Siliceous  Slate. 

1.  Basnnife.  Sometimes  found  in  alluvial  soil  on  the 
banks  of  Deerfield  river;  but  perhaps  brought  thither  by 
the  aborigines,  who  made  use  of  this  and  of  jasper  for  barbs 
to  their  arrowsand  pikes. 

32.  Piichstone.  Near  New-Haven.  {Silliman.) 

33.  Mca. 

1.  Laminated.  At  Leverctt,  Alstead,  &c. 

2.  Lamellar.  At  Woodbury  it  is  violet.  (Silliman.)  Also 
at  Goshen,  Mass.  yellownsh  green  and  violet,  and  some- 
times in  rhombic  tables.  (Gibbs.)  Of  the  same  colors  at 
Bellows  Fails,  in  granitic  veins.  (Silliman.)  Most  of  the 
mica  in  the  granitic  veins  in  Conway,  Ashlield,  Williams- 
burgh,  Chesterfield,  Sic.  is  straw  yellow,  sometimes  rose- 
red,  and  in  these  veins  it  exists  in  excess.  It  occurs  in 
these  and  other  towns  also,  in  granite  of  a  smoky  or  nearly 
black  color. 

3.  Pri.wiaiic  .Mica.  Near  Watertown.  (Silliman.)  A\ 
Litchfield.  (Brace.) 

34.  Shorl. 

1.  Common  Shorl.  At  Haddam,  in  six-sided  prisms,  ter- 
minated by  threfe-sided  pyramids.  (Gibbs  and  Webster.)  It 
occurs  in  almost  every  town  in  the  primitive  region  along 
the  Connecticut.  Localities  where  it  is  found  abundant, 
or  beautiful,  are  Pelham,  Shutesbury,  Orange  and  Brattle- 
borough.  Ai  the  latter  place  it  is  found  abundantly  neaj- 
the  centre  of  the  town  in  mica  slate  or  hornblende  slate  : 
and  also  near  the  north  line  of  the  town  (mentioned  in 
Cleavcland's  Mineralogy  as  occurring  in  Dummcrston.)  it 


Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut.  107 

exists  in  crystals  half  an  inch  in  diameter  and  often  four  or 
five  inches  long,  sometimes  terminated  hy  three-sided  pyr- 
amids, in  common  white  quartz.  The  contrast  renders  the 
specimens  quite  beautiful,  and  one  large  loose  mass  lies  on 
the  surface  nearly  two  feet  in  diameter,  which  would  be  an 
ornament  to  a  mineral  cabinet. 

2.  Green  Tonrmalinc.  At  Chesterfield  and  Goshen,  Mass. 
(Gibbs.)  These  interesting  localities  have  been  so  well 
described  by  Col.  Gibbs,  as  to  render  any  farther  remarks 
unnecessary.    (Am.  Jour.  Vol.  I.  p.  346.) 

3.  Indkolite.  At  Chesterfield  and  Goshen.  (Gibbs.) 
At  Bellows  Falls.  (Silliman.)  At  Hinsdale,  New-Hamp- 
shire, in  granite,  in  great  abundance.  (J.  A.  Allen.)  This 
locality  is  found  most  readily  by  taking  the  road  from  Hins- 
dale to  Winchester. 

35.  Ruhellite.  At  Chesterfield  and  Goshen,  Mass.  (Gibbs.) 
Sec  his  account  in  the  Journal  of  Science,  as  above  cited. 

3G.   Feldspar. 

1 .  Common  Feldspar.  Near  Haddam,  greenish  and  trans- 
lucent. (McEwcn.)  In  the  same  vicinity  it  is  of  a  light  flesh 
color,  and  in  large  masses  in  granitic  veins  and  beds.  Also 
of  the  same  color  in  pudding-stone,  Deerfield.  Also  in  large, 
bluish,  imperfect  crystals,  in  granite,  Leverett.  It  occurs, 
of  course,  abundantly  in  all  that  part  of  the  map  colored  as 
granite,  gneiss  and  sienite. 

2.  Adularia.  At  Haddam.  (T.  D.  Porter.)  At  West- 
Springfield  and  Southampton  lead  mine.  (Waterhouse.)  At 
Brimfield.   (Eaton.) 

3.  Siliceous  Feldspar.  (Gibbs.)  At  Chesterfield,  Mass. 
and  Haddam.  (Gibbs.)  Also  at  Goshen — a  new  varicty^j 
discovered  by  Dr.  Hunt. 

37.  Precious  Emerald.  At  Haddam  ?  For  a  discussion  of 
the  subject  whether  this  mineral  exists  in  the  United  States, 
see  Cleaveland's  Mineralogy.  Vol.  l.p.  341. 


108  Geology,  fyc.  of  the  Connecticut, 

38.  Beryl.  At  Brookfield,  Huntington  and  Haddam.  {Sil- 
liman.)  Also  at  Litchfield.  (Brace.)  Aho  at  Chatham. 
(Mather.)  Also  at  Chesterfield,  Mass.  and  Goshen.  (Gibbs.) 
At  Chesterfield  and  Haddam  the  crystals  are  sometimes 
from  nine  to  twelve  inches  in  diameter.  At  Goshen  some 
are  rose-colored.  I  found  some  crystals  of  beryl  four  or 
five  miles  north  of  the  centre  of  Haddam. 

39.  Garnet.  At  Haddam — four  inches  diameter.  (Silli- 
man.)  Also  at  Tolland,  nearly  rose-red.  (Webster.)  Also 
at  the  cobalt  mine,  Chatham,  in  mica  slate,  crystallized  in 
rhombic  dodecaedrous,  or  rather  six-sided  prisms  termina- 
ted by  three  sided  pyramids — the  prisms  often  considerably 
elongated — color  pale  red — size  that  of  a  common  musket 
bullet.  Also  at  Plai'nfield,  in  limpid  quartz,  in  trapezoedrons, 
or  having  at  least  as  many  as  twenty-four  sides — color  of 
the  mass  nearly  iron  black.  Found  by  J.  Porter.  Also 
at  the  same  place  in  talco-micaceous  slate,  in  dodecae- 
drons;  color  brownish  red;  size  of  a  pea.  Also  at  the 
same  place,  in  dodecaedrons,  truncated  and  striated  on  all 
their  edges  by  hexaedral  faces  ;  presenting  thirty-six  faces 
in  the  whole — color  dull  red — size  of  a  common  bullet. 
Also  at  the  same  place  in  talcose  slate,  in  dodecaedrons  of 
the  same  color,  sometimes  two  inches  in  diameter.  Also  at 
Chesterfield,  Mass.  with  sappar,  in  trapezoedrons  ;  color 
light  rose-red — size  of  a  pea.  Also  in  hornblende  and  mi- 
ca-slate, in  Conway  and  Deerfield  ;  color  nearly  black — 
crystals  dodecaedrons — sometimes  as  large  as  a  common 
bullet.  Also  in  Conway,  a  loose  mass,  almost  wholly  made 
up  of  small  black  garnets  in  dodecaedrons — size  less  than 
one  tenth  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  with  scarcely  any  dif- 
ference in  the  size  of  hundreds.  Also  at  Marlborough,  Ver- 
mont, one  mile  south  of  the  meeting-house,  in  dodecaedrons 
of  a  cherry-red,  in  chlorite  slate;  but  hardly  the  precious 
garnet.  They  occur  at  this  spot  in  immense  quantities, 
and  beautiful  specimens  may  easily  be  obtained.  A  hun- 
dred other  localities  of  the  common  garnet  tnight  be  men- 
tioned;  since  it  occurs  in  all  our  primitive  rocks:  but  the 
most  interesting  have  been  noticed. 

1.  Pyrope.  At  Brimfield,  Mass.  in  granite,  the  feldspar  of 
*'hi^h  h  li^ht  green — in  rounded  irregular  masses  of  a  del- 


Geology,  &fc.  of  the  Coymectintt.  109 

icate  poppy  red,  much  re?cmbling  some  varieties  of  (he  ru- 
by. ''It  scratches  crystaliized  quartz,"  says  Professor 
Dewey,  ""and  melts,  rather  hardly,  into  a  dark  cnameJ.'' 
Found  in  digginj^  a  well- 

2.  Colophonitc.  At  Conway  ? 

40.  Magnesian  Garnet.  At  Haddam.  (Vide  Cleaveland's 
Min.  Vol.  2.  p.  777.) 

41.  Epidote.  At  Milford  Hills,  in  primitive  greenstone. 
(Silliman.)  Also  at  Litchfield  and  Washington,  in  gra[)hic 
granite  and  sienite;  crystallized.  (Brace.)  Also  at  Had- 
dam, crystallized.  Also  at  Tolland.  (Webster.)  Also  at 
Athol,  Worcester  county,  Mass.  in  prismatic  hiaded  crys- 
tals, associated  with  black  radiated  schorl  and  hornblende. 
Also  in  Shutesbury,  in  small  crystals  in  gneiss.  It  occurs 
also  in  a  great  many  other  places,  disseminated  in  various 
rocks,  and  not  very  interesting. 

1.  Zoisite.  At  Haddam.  (Webster.)  Also  at  Wardsbo- 
rough,  Vermont,  in  much  compressed,  greenish  grey,  pris- 
matic crystals:  sometimes  a  foot  long  and  one  or  two  inch- 
es wide.  (Dczvey.)  Discovered  by  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen.  Also 
at  Leyden,  Brattlcborough  and  Westmoreland.  (Hall.) 

2.  Arenaceous  Epidote.  At  Haddam.  (Webster.)  Also 
at  Shutesbury,  Leyden,  Shelburne,  Buckland,  Whately, 
Belchertown,  Monson,  and  a  great  number  of  places,  in 
hornblende  and  greenstone  slate. 

42.  Prehnite.  Near  New-Haven,  in  secondary  green- 
stone, in  radiated  masses,  or  in  veins.  Also  at  Woodbury, 
in  the  same  sort  of  rock,  in  mammillary,  botryoidal  and  al- 
most globular  masses.  (Silliman.)  Also  between  Simsbury 
and  Wintonbury,  in  mammillary  masses  in  greenstone. 
(Hayden.)  Also  in  Deerfield,  Greenfield,  and,  indeed,  in 
almost  every  part  of  (he  secondary  greenstone  ranges  from 
New-Haven  to  Gill;  in  all  the  forms  mentioned  above.  In 
Deerfield  the  radiated  masses  sometimes  contain  pyritous 
copper.  They  occur  there, also,  on  pseudomorphous  quartz, 
having  evidently  been  formed  since  the  decomposition  of 
the  crystals  originally  occupying  the  cavities.     In  the  same 


110  Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut. 

place,  1  have  found  prchnite  crystallized  in  t^roups  on  chal- 
cedonv;  but  could  not  determine  the  form  of  the  crystal. 
Also  near  Bellows  Falls  in  primitive  rocks.  I  saw  speci- 
mens in  the  cahinet  of  Dr.  Wells;  but  was  not  informed  of 
the  precise  locality:  yet  the  mica  attached  to  the  speci- 
mens indicated  their  detachment  from  the  older  classes  of 
rocks. 

43.  Stilbite,  At  Woodbury,  well  characterized.  (Silli- 
man.)  Also  at  Deerfield  in  secondary  greenstone  ;  usually 
associated  with  chabasie.  Its  crystals  appear  to  be  right 
prisms,  whose  bases  are  rhombs  with  angles  of  about  60' 
and  120°.  They  rarely  exceed  one  tenth  of  an  inch  in 
their  longest  direction.  They  are  frequently  grouped  so 
as  to  become  mere  foliated  masses.  The  lustre  of  the  fo- 
lia is  pearly,  and  they  are  usually  a  little  curved;  color 
white.  On  hot  coals  it  whitens  and  before  the  blow-pipe 
intumesces  and  melts  into  a  white  spongy  enamel.  It  is  but 
rarely  met  with. 

44.  Zeolite.  Near  New-Haven  it  is  found  in  secondary 
greenstone,  crystallized,  or  radiated,  or  mealy.  (Silli/nan.) 
Also  at  Deerfield,  in  radiated  librous  masses,  sometimes  as 
large  as  a  musket  bull(;t,or  morerarely  an  inch  in  diameter. 

45.  Lmimonite.  In  secondary  greenstone,  also  in  loose 
rolled  masses  of  pudding-stone  near  New-Iiaven.  {Silliman.) 

4G.  Analcime.  At  East-IIaven,  with  chalcedony  and 
agates.  {T.  D.  Porter.)  Also  at  Meriden,  Connecticut. 
{Silliman.)  Also  at  Deerfield,  usually  in  laminated  or  ra- 
diated masses,  which  are  reniform,  cylindrical  and  nearly 
spherical.  Very  rarely  in  trapezoidal  crystals — color  white, 
grey  and  flesh-colored.  Associated  w^ith  calcareous  spar, 
quartz,  chalcedony,  Szc.  and  frequently  eflfervesces  a  little 
with  the  acids. 

47.  Chabasie.  At  Deerfield,  in  cavities  and  seams  in  se- 
condary greenstone;  usually  crystallized  in  transparent,  or 
brownish,  or  yellowish  crystals;  presenting  the  primitive 
form,  from  one  twentieth  to  one  fourth  of  an  inch  in  diame- 
ter, insulated  and  grouped  on  limpid,  psendomorphous  and 


Geology,  ^c.  of  the  CGuncclicvt.  Ill 

tabular  quartz,  chalcedony,  balls  of  zeolite,  &c.  Hundreds 
of  specimens  have  been  obtained  at  tliis  place.  'J^o  procure 
them,  however,  requires  much  labour. 

48.  Apophyllite.  Near  Saybrook,  Connecticut.    (Gibbs.) 

49.  TremoUtf.  At  Milford,  Washington,  Goshen,  Canaan, 
(Conn.)  &;c.  in  dolomite  and  granular  limestone.  (Silliman.) 

A  mineral  is  found  at  Le}' den  in  great  quantities,  associated 
with  quartz,  limestone  &.c.  and  sometimes  forming  the  gangue 
of  the  red  oxid  of  titanium ;  the  same  occurs  also  at  West  Ha- 
ven or  Orange  in  hornblende — also  at  Leyden  .  at  Colrain  . 
at  Shelburne  .  at  Conway  at  Goshen  ,  (Mass.)  at  Guil- 
ford and  Bratlleborough  .  Vt.  and  in  various  instances,  in 
vast  abundance:  this  mineral  has  generally  been  called 
tremolite,  and  sometimes  zoizile,  but  it  is  probably  scapohte. 

50.  Asbeslus.  At  New-Haven  and  Milford,  in  serpentine, 
very  beautiful.  (Silliman.)  Also  at  Pelham,  Mass.  where  it 
occurs  with  serpentine  and  talc. 

Amianthus.  At  New-Haven  and  Milford.  Also  at  Wash- 
ington. (Silliman.) 

51.  Augite.  At  Litchfield  in  dolomite — the  whitish  varie- 
ty. (Brace.)  Also  atBrookficId  and  Washington  in  dolomite. 
(Eaton.)  Also  at  Goshen,  Mass.  in  granite,  in  flattened 
greenish  gray  prisms,  sometimes  eight  inches  long  and  two 
inches  wide.  This  locality  is  one  mile  north  of  the  meet- 
ing house,  on  the  road  to  Ashfield.  Also  at  Deerfield,  in 
secondary  greenstone,  associated  with  quartz  and  calcareous 
spar,  either  in  irregular  veins  or  imperfect  crystals — colour 
black — not  abundant. 

1.  Sahlite.  Near  New-Haven  in  serpentine  rocks  belong- 
ing to  the  formation  of  verd-antique  marble.  (Silliman.) 

52.  Common  Hornblende.  This,  of  course,  occurs  in  great 
quantities  as  a  constituent  of  several  rocks  marked  on  the 
map  ;  indeed,  it  may  be  found  in  a  good  degree  of  pu- 
rity almost  every  where  along  the  Connecticut,  either  in 
place  or  in  rolled  masses. 

16 


112  Geologj/,  fyc.  of  the  Connecticut. 

1.  Ldinrllar  Hornblende.  Good  specimens  are  found  in 
Holland  Mass.  (Eaton.)  Also  in  Leverelt,  Sunderland,  Con- 
way, &c.  of  a  black  colour,  in  Shutesbury  it  is  green. 
It  is  found  in  sienitic  granite  and  gneiss,  in  scales  tbal  are 
easily  mistaken  for  black  mica. 

2.  Fibrous  Hornblende.  At  Leyden,  the  fibres  very  fine. 
Also  near  Bellows  Falls,  extremely  beautiful,  associated  with 
quartz.  Also  in  Slielburne,  Conway,  Go.^hen,  &i.c.  in  mica 
slate,  in  large  and  broad  fibres  or  lamellae. 

3.  Fasciculile.  This  is  composed  offibres,  or  rather  in  many 
instances,  of  lamellae,  frequently  more  tlian  ^\  of  an  inch 
broad,  diverging  at  both  ends,  so  as  to  occupy  usually,  as  many 
as  60°  of  a  circle.  These  lamellae  are  commonly  inserted 
perpendicularly  to  the  folia  of  the  slate  in  which  they  occur, 
and  are  applied  to  each  other  by  their  broader  faces,  being 
bent  outwards  on  both  sides,  somewhat  like  a  bow,  and  pre- 
senting elegant  and  very  perfect  fascicles.  Tne  fibres  or 
lamellae,  scarely,  if  ever,  cross  one  another;  y-^^t  some- 
times they  diverge  in  nearly  straight  lines,  and  sometimes 
are  so  much  curved  as  to  resemble  very  exactly  a  sheaf 
of  grain  when  standing  erect.  (See  Plate  9,)  The  figure  in 
the  plate  does  not  give  a  representation  more  regular  or  dis- 
tinct than  many  of  the  most  perfect  specimens  present.  The 
length  of  the  fibres  or  lamellae  varies  from  one  to  four  inch- 
es. It  is  found  'v\  mica  slate  and  talco-micaceous  slate  in 
Hawley.  Plainfield.  and  Conway.  Probably  this  variety  is 
comprehended  under  Fibrosis  Hornhhnde  by  Cleaveland  ; 
and  perhaps  specimens  as  perfect  as  those  described  above 
are  not  unfrequent.  But  so  exact  and  striking  an  instance 
do  these  exhibit  of  the  fascicular  structure  of  minerals,  that 
I  could  not  resist  the  temptation  to  denominate  them  Fasci- 
culite. 

4.  Hornllcndr  Slatr.  For  aa  account  of  this,  see  the  Geo- 
logical part  of  this  sketch. 

53  Act^piolite,  At  Saybrook,  and  near  N.  Hav'en  in  ser- 
pentine. (Silliman.)  Also  at  Litchfield.  (Brace.)  Also  at 
Middlefield.  (Dewey.)  Also  at  Hawley.  (Eaton.)  Also  at 
Cummington.  (J.  Porter.)  Also  at  Windliam  in  compressed 


Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut.  113 

four  sided  prisms,  in  steatite  and  talc  ;  the  specimens  su- 
perb. (Hall.)  Also  at  Chatham  Ct.  near  the  bank  of  the 
river  opposite  the  upper  ferry  in  Haddarn,  in  an  enormous 
granitic  vein;  associated  with  black  schorl,  magnetic  oxide 
of  iron,  &,c.  Also  at  Belchertown.  Also  at  Shutesbury  in 
gneiss.  Also  at  New  Salem  in  acicular  crystals  in  chlorite.  Also 
at  New  Fane,  where  it  was  discovered  by  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen. 
It  occurs  in  steatite  in  four  sided,  sometimes  very  perfect, 
sometimes  flattened  and  striated  crystals,  five  or  six  inches 
long,  often  half  an  inch  broad,  generally  radiated,  sometimes 
curved  and  crossing  one  another.  The  colour  is  a  dark 
beautiful  green,  and  the  specimens  are  very  elegant. 

54.  Anthophillite.  It  is  said  to  have  been  found  near 
Say  brook  (Cleaveland's  Mineralogy.) 

55.  Diallrige.  In  serpentine  rocks  near  New-Haven — 
well  characterised.  (Hall.)  Also  in  Conway  ?  in  granite. 

56.  Made.  At  Bellows  Fal's  Croyden,  Cornish,  Charles- 
town,  Langdon  and  Alstcad  in  argillite.  (Hall.)  According 
to  Mr.  Nultall,  the  foliated  mineral  occurring  so  abundantly 
in  the  mica  slate  in  Chesterfield,  Plainfield,  Hawley,  Heath. 
&,c.  being  usually  inserted  in  small  bronze  coloured  plates, 
nearly  at  right  angles  with  the  folia  of  the  slate,  may  be 
made. 

57.  Serpe7itine. 

1.  Precious  Serpentine.  At  Milford,  in  nodules  or  irregu- 
lar masses  in  primitive  limestone.  (Silliman.) 

2.  Common  Serpentine.  In  extensive  beds  and  variously 
blended  with  limestone  at  Milford  and  New-Haven,  forming 
the  Verd  Antique.  (Silliman.)  Also  at  Westfield  in  granite. 
(Eaton.)  Also  at  Middlefield,  associated  with  steatite.  (Dew- 
ey.) Also  at  Grafton,  Windham  and  Putney,  Vermont,  in 
large  insulated  masses  weighing  many  tons.  (J.  A.  Allen.) 
Also  at  Pelham  Mass.  in  a  large  loose  mass  penetrated  by 
asbestus  and  associated  with  talc.  Also  at  Leyden,  Shel- 
burne,  Deerfield,  &.c.  in  small  rolled  masses. 

58.  Tafr. 


I  14  Geology^  ^'C.  of  the  Conncciicid. 

1.  Common  Talc.  At  Haddam,  Litchfield  and  Southamp- 
ton. (Cleaveland)  Also  at  Cummington  in  steatite.  (J.  Por- 
ter.) Also  at  Middlefield  in  steatite.  (Dewey.)  Also  at 
Windham  in  steatite — laminae  very  large  and  beautiful.  (Hall.) 
Also  in  New  Fane  in  steatite — specimens  laminated  and  el- 
eaant.  (J.  A.  Allen.)  Also  at  Pelham,  associated  with  ser- 
jientine  and  asbestus.     Also  at  Rovve. 

2.  Induraled  Talc.  At  Milford  marble  quarry.  (Silli- 
man.) 

3.  Scaly    Tide.  At  Windham    and  New  Fane.     (J.  A. 

Allen,) 

.59.  Steatite. 

1.  Common  Steatite.  Near  New-Haven  and  at  Litchfield. 
(Cleaveland.)  Also  at  Middlefield  connected,  with  serpen- 
tine and  mica  slate,  and  crystallized  in  six  sided  prisms  ter- 
minated by  six  sided  pyramids.  (Dewey.)  Also  at  Grafton 
and  Windliam.  (Hall.)  Also  at  New  Fane  and  Marlbo- 
rough. (,J.  A.  Allen.)  Also  at  Savoy  and  Cummington  (J. 
Porter.)  Also  at  Westminster,  Vermont,  where,  as  well 
as  at  Grafton,  it  is  wrought  into  aqueducts  and  answers  a 
valuable  purpose.  Also  at  New  Salem  forming  a  bed  in 
gneiss. 

2.  Potstone.  At  Grafton,  Vermont,  in  large  quantities. 
(Hall.) 

60.   Chlorite. 

1,  Common  Chlorite.  Near  New^-Haven,  penetrating 
quartz  and  calcareous  spar,  and  in  greenstone.  (Silliman.) 
Also  at  Saybrook,  crystallized.  (T.  D.  Porter.)  Also  at 
Wardsborough,  Vermont,  in  dark  green  folia.  (Dewey.) 
Also  at  Halifax,  Leyden,  Conway,  &,c.  foliated.  Also  at 
Miller's  Falls  in  Montague  penetrating  milk  white  quartz. 
Also  at  New  Salem.  Also  in  greenstone  amygdaloid  at 
Deerfield,  Greenfield,  Gill,  kc  It  fills  two  thirds  of  the 
cavities  in  some  varieties  of  greenstone,  and  to  the  naked 
eye  has  a  radiated  aspect,  but  Professor  Dewey  remarks, 


Geology^  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut.  115 

iJiat  it  does  not  appear  to  be  radiated  under  a  magnifier, 
great  or  small ;  but  to  consist  of  folia  curiously  arranged 
often  with  no  regularity  and  their  length  somewhat  greater 
than  their  breadth." 

2.  Chlorite  Slate.  For  an  account  of  this,  see  the  map 
and  the  Geological  part  of  this  sketch. 

3.  Green  Earth.  A  part  of  the  chlorite  described  above 
in  the  amygdaloid  in  Deerfield,  &,c.  appears  to  belong  to  this 
variety. 

61.  Argillaceous  Slate. 

1.  Argillite. 

2.  Shale. 

"3.  Bituminous  Shale.  For  a  description  of  these  minerals 
ihc  reader  is  referred  to  the  Geological  part  of  this  sketch. 

62.  Claystonc.  This  is  found  in  rolled  peices  in  the  bed 
of  Connecticut  river  below  where  it  cuts  through  the  coal 
formation  at  Gill ;  and  probably  this  mineral  is  worn  from 
thence  by  the  water.  The  pieces  frequently  occur  in  the 
form  of  a  prolate  spheroid,  sometimes  flattened,  even  to  the 
shape  of  a  wheel,  and  sometimes  assuming  shapes  bearing  a 
resemblance  to  the  sculptured  images  of  Persia  and  India. 
It  is  opaque — colour,  light  gray — scarcely  adheres  to  the 
tongue,  and  yields  a  slight  argillaceous  odour — fracture  dull 
and  uneven,  a  little  conchoidal — easily  scratched  with  a 
knife  and  even  by  the  finger  nail  ;  yet  its  particles  scratch 
iron.     It  does  not  effervesce  with  acids. 

6:3.   Clay. 

1.  Porcelain  Clay.  At  Washington  Ct.  in  small  quantities. 
(Cleaveland.)  Also  at  Plainfield  (Silliman.)  Also  at  Con- 
way and  Leyden  in  small  quantities. 

2.  Potters  Clay.  In  the  older  alluvion  along  the  Connect- 
icut, abundant. 


116  Geology,  <^-c.  of  the  Connecticut. 

3.  Loam.  In  the  newest  alluvion  along  the  Connecticut. 

4  Fuller'' s  Earth.  At  the  bed  of  iron  ore  in  Kent.  (Silli- 
inan.) 

64.  Sulphur.  This  occurs  pulverulent  in  small  quantities 
in  mica  slate,  in  Warwick,  Shelburne,  Conway,  &.c.  Per- 
haps it  proceeds  from  the  decomposition  of  some  sulphuret. 

65.  Graphite.  At  Cornwall,  Connecticut.  (Brace.)  Also 
at  Tolland.  (Webster.)  Also  at  Hebron  and  Sharon. 
(Cleaveland.)     Also    between     Sturbridge    and    Holland, 

Mass. 

66.  Coal.  At  Durham,  Middletown,  Chatham,  Southing- 
ton,  Berlin,  Suffield,  Enfield,  Somers,  Ellington  and  South 
Hadley.  (Silliman.)  Also  in  the  drift,  of  the  Southampton 
lead  mine.  From  some  of  these  localities,  the  coal  is  high- 
ly bituminous,  in  others  scarcely  so  at  all. 

C7.  Lignite. 

1.  Jet.  At  South' Hadley.  (Gibbs.) 

68.  Peat.  In  small  quantities  at  Leveiett,  Mass. 

69.  Native  Silver.  At  Huntington  in  the  bismuth  mine. 
Also  at  West  River  Mountain,  Chesterfield,  New-Hamp- 
shire. (Silliman.)  After  the  remarks  and  explanations  giv- 
en by  Prof.  Silliman.  (Am.  Jouru.  Sci.  Vol  HI.  p.  74. 
note,)  no  reasonable  doubt  can  remain  concerning  this  last 
locality. 

70.  Sulphuret  of  Silver.  In  Connecticut  it  is  said  to  have 
been  found.  (Cleaveland's  Mineralogy.) 

71.  .Yative  Copper.  At  Bristol,  Connecticut,  in  a  vein 
with  the  red  oxide  of  copper.  (Gibl)S.)  .Also  on  the  Ham- 
den  hills,  a  mass  of  about  ninety  po'mHs,  adhering  to  the 
rock.  Also  twelve  miles  from  New-Haven  near  the  Hart- 
ford turnpike,  a  mass  of  six  poimds  in  alluvial  soil.  (Silli- 
man )  Also  at  VVhately,  Mass.  in  geest,  on  the  limit  be- 
tween the  primitive  and  alluvial  soil,  and  about  five  miles 


Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut.  117 

from  secondary  greenstone  or  the  coal  formation.  The 
piece  weigiis  seventeen  ounces  and  very  much  resembles 
the  last  mass  above  described,  exhibiting  imperfect  rudi- 
ments of  octaedral  crystals  on  the  surface,  and  being  encrust- 
ed by  green  carbonate  of  copper.  The  cavities  alao  con- 
tain a  very  little  red  oxide  of  copper. 

72.  Sulphuret  of  Copper,  Near  New-Haven,  at  Simsbury 
mine,  &:c.  (Silliman.) 

73.  Pyritous  Copper.  At  Cheshire,  Simsbury,  he.  (Silli- 
man.) Also  at  the  Southampton  lead  mine,  where  it  occurs 
amorphous  and  crystallized  in  regular  tetraedrons  which  are 
insulated  on  calcareous  spar.  For  the  specimens  contain- 
ing these  crystals,  I  am  indebted  to  Dr.  David  Hunt.  Also 
at  the  Leverett  lead  mine  amorphous.  Also  in  greenstone, 
Deerfield.  Also  at  Greenfield  in  veins,  in  greenstone  and 
sandstone. 

74.  Variegated  Pyritous  Copper.  This  occurs  sparingly 
disseminated  in  calcareous  spar  in  sandstone  of  the  coal  for- 
mation. In  the  island  in  the  middle  of  Connecticut  river  at 
the  falls  in  Gill.  1  am  indebted  to  Prof.  Dewey  for  the  de- 
termination of  this  mineral. 

75.  Antimonial  Gray  Copper.  Near  Hartford,  in  the  red 
sandstone  formation,  (coal  formation  ?)  (Maclure.) 

76.  White  Copper.  At  Fairfield  ?*  Connecticut.  (Silli- 
man.) 

77.  Red  Oxide  of  Copper.  At  Bristol,  in  a  vein  with  na- 
tive copper.  (Gibbs.)  Also  with  native  copper  in  the  green- 
stone mountains  extending  northerly  from  New-Haven. 
(Silliman.) 

78.  Green  Carbonate  of  Copper.  At  Greenfield,  near  the 
Falls  in  Gill,  in  two  veins  with  pyritous  copper,  in  considera- 
ble abundance  near  the  surface.  It  is  amorphous  and  even 
earthy. 

*  There  is  great  rpason  tobpliere  that  this  locality  is  not  correct. — Editor. 


118  Geologi/,  Sfc.  of  the  Connecticut. 

1.  Fibrous  Malachite.  At  Cheshire,  &c.  in  small  but  good 
speciinens.  (Silliman.) 

79.  Arsenical  I -on?  or  Arsenical  Sulphiiret  of  Iron  ?  At 
Gill  in  a  loose  mass  weighing  several  pounds.  Found  by 
Dr.  Alpiieus  Stone. 

80.  Sidphurei  of  Iron.  (Pyrites — Iron  Pyritr-s.)  This  is 
found  in  every  town  and  in  almost  every  rock  along  the 
Conn-  cticut  ;  as  in  the  bituminous  shale  at  Westfield  and 
Sunderland,  compact  and  aninphous;  also  in  other  rocks 
of  the  coal  formation.  Also  at  Plainfield,  disseminated  in 
limpid  quarlz.  Also  atHawley,  compact  and  unmixed  with 
any  gangue  Also  at  Hahfax,  Vermont,  in  an  immense 
mass  found  in  digging  a  cellar.  Also  with  micaceous  oxide 
of  iron  ?.t  Montague.  Al-o  at  the  Southampton  lead  mine, 
beautifi'lly  crystallized  in  octaedrons  which  are  truncated  in 
all  their  angles.  It  is  grouped  or  insulated  on  crystallized 
quartz,  and  the  crystals  are  about  as  large  as  a  small  shot, 
yet  perfectly  distinct  and  well  marked. 

81.  Magnetic  Sulphurcl  of  Iron.  At  Brookfield,  abundant 
in  granite.  Also  at  Huntington  with  bismuth,  &.c.  (Silli- 
man.)    Also  near  V^^oodbury  in  gneiss.    (Eaton.) 

82.  Arsenical  Sufphuret  of  Iron.  At  Derby  Middle- 
lown,  and  the  Chatham  Cobalt  mine.  (Silliman.)  AlaO  at 
Leicester,  Mass.  in  gneiss.  (Dewey.) 

83.  Magnetic  Oxide  of  Iron.  At  Somerset,  Vermont, 
in  beds  from  one  inch  to  two  feet  thick,  in  mica  slate.  (J. 
A.  Allen.)  At  Chatham,  near  the  bank  of  the  river,  oppo- 
site the  upper  ferry  iu  Haddam,  in  a  granite  vein  with 
schorl,  actynolite,  garnets,  he.  The  crystals  are  octae- 
drons, well  defined,  and  often  nearly  an  inch  in  diameter. 
Also  at  Plainfield,  Shelburne,  Athol,  Shutesbury,  he.  in 
smaller  octaedrons  in  mica  slate  and  gneiss.  Also  in  beds 
in  talcose  slate  at  Ilawlcy.     Also  in  beds  in  Bcrnardstown. 

1.  Iron  Sand.  At  West  I Javcn  beach  abundant.  (Silli- 
man.) Also  on  the  beach  near  the  Li^ht  House  in  East 
Haven  in  great  abuudance.  Also  a  little  below  Turner's 
Falls  in  Gill,  on  the  southeast  baidv  of  Connecticut  river. 


Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut.  119 

84.  Specular  Oxide  of  Iroyi,  Sometimes  covering  quartz 
and  other  minerals ;  as  at  New  Fane  and  Leyden  ;  but  not 
abundant. 

85.  Micaceous  Oxide  of  Iron.  Ai  Jamaica,  Vermont,  in 
dolomite  ;  very  handsome.  (/.  A.  Allen.)  Also  at  Haw- 
ley  and  at  Montague  :  for  a  description  of  which,  see  the 
general  view  of  mineral  veins  and  beds  that  precedes  this 
list  of  minerals. 

86.  Red  Oxide  of  Iron. 

1 .  Scaly  Red   Oxide   of  Iron.     At   Kent,    Connecticut. 

{Gihbs.) 

2.  Red  Hematite.     At  Kent.     (Gibbs.) 

87.  Brozon  Oxide  of  Iron. 

1.  Brown  Hematite.  At  Salisbury  and  Kent,  Connecti- 
cut. (Silliman.)  Also  at  Westriver  mountain  in  Chester- 
field, New-Hampshire,  in  mica  slate. 

88.  Argillaceous  Oxide  of  Iron. 

1.  Granular  Argillaceous  Oxid  of  Iron.  At  Salisbury. 
(Cleaveland.) 

2.  Modular  Argillaceous  Oxide  of  Iron.  At  Putney,  Ver- 
mont, in  beds  of  common  clav.  The  masses  are  oval  and 
elongated,  embracing  an  earthy  nucleus.  Also  near  the 
falls  in  Gill,  in  a  dark  hard  slate  of  the  coal  formation. 

3.  Bog  Ore.  At  New  Braintree,  Massachusetts,  where 
it  is  wrought — also  at  Greenfield. 

89.  Carbonate  of  Iron,  (spathic  iron.)  At  New-Milford, 
in  abundance,  {Silliman.) 

90.  Sulphate  of  Iron.  Efflorescing  on  mica  slate  in  small 
quantities  in  Conway,  Hawley,  &:c. 

91.  Chromaie  of  Iron.     At  New-Haven  and  Milford  ;  dis- 

17 


120  Geology i  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut, 

seminated  in  the  verd  Antique  marble.  {Silliman.)  Also  at 
Middlefield  in  serpentine.  {Eaton.)  Also  at  Cummington, 
well  characterized  and  almost  exactly  resembling  the  Bal- 
timore chromate  ;  in  a  loose  mass — Found  by  Dr.  J.  Por- 
ter. 

92.  Sulphuret  of  Lead.  At  Middletown,[Southington,  and 
Huntington,  where  it  is  uncommonly  argentiferous,  and  at 
Bethlehem,  (Silliman.)  Also  at  Berlin,  (Percival.)  Also 
at  Southampton,  Montgomery,  Hatfield,  Leverett,  where 
are  two  localities,  and  Whately.  At  these  places  the  struc- 
ture of  the  ore  is  commonly  foliated,  sometimes  granular 
and  sometimes  in  cubical  crystals. 

93.  Carbonate  of  Lead.  This  exists  in  the  cavities  of  the 
matrix  of  the  lead  mine  at  Southampton.  Its  colour  is 
white  or  mixed  with  yellow.  Before  the  blowpipe  it  de- 
crepitated and  readily  yielded  a  globule  of  lead.  It  occurs 
crystalized  as  follows. — 1.  Two  six  sided  pyramids  united 
at  their  bases  and  deeply  truncated  at  their  apices — making 
fourteen  faces  to  the  crystal. — 2.  A  six  sided  prism,  ter- 
minated by  four  sided  pyramids,  two  of  the  faces  being  en- 
larged— fourteen  faces  to  the  crystal. — 3*  Tabular  prisms 
with  bevelments  on  the  edges  ;  but  the  precise  form  I 
could  not  determine.  These  tables  frequently  cross  one 
another. 

94.  Carbonated  Muriate  of  Lead.  At  the  Southampton 
lead  mine  in  light  green  groups  of  cubic  crystals,  termina- 
ted by  tetraedral  pyramids.  (Meade.) 

95.  Sulphate  of  Lead.  At  Huntington  with  argentifer- 
ous galena.  (Silliman.)  Also  at  Southampton  lead  mine, 
in  plates  or  tables  on  galena.     (Meade.) 

96.  Phosphate  of  Lead.  At  Southampton  lead  mine,  in 
light  green  spherical  masses,  having  a  radiated  structure. 

97.  Molybdate  of  Lead.  At  Southampton  lead  mine  in 
tabular,  wax  yellow  crystals.     (Meade.) 

98.  Sulphuret  of  Zinc.  At  Berlin.  (Silliman.)  Also  at 
Southampton  lead  mine,  foliated  and  crystallized.     The 


«('■. 


Geology^  ^c.  of  the  Connecticui.  121 

crystals  are  so  grouped  that  it  is  difficult;,  in  the  specimens 
which  I  saw,  to  seize  upon  the  precise  fArm.  I  think,  how- 
ever, I  found  the  octaedron  with  truncated  pyramids.  Also 
at  Leverett,  foliated. 

99.  Arsenical  Nickel.  At  Chatham,  associated  with  ar- 
senical cobalt.     (Pierce  and  Torrey.) 

100.  Arsenical  Cobalt!  Ai  C\idX\idim»     (Silliman.) 

•     » 

101.  Arseniate  &f  Cobalt.  At  Chatham.  (Pierce  and 
Torrey.) 

102.  Oxide  of  Manganese.  At  Leverett,  in  alluvial  soil 
forming;  a  bed  five  or  six  inches  thick  a  (ew  inches  below 
the  surface.  It  is  in  rounded  irregular  masses  from  the  size 
of  a  pea  to  an  inch  in  diameter  and  considerably  resem- 
bles granular  oxide  of  Iron.  Also  at  Deerfield  ;  forming 
crusts  on  quartz  and  mica  slate. 

1 03.  Native  Bismuth.     At  Huntington.     (Silliman.) 

104.  Native  Antimony.  At  Harwinton,  Litchfield  coun- 
ty, in  broad  plates.    (Silliman.) 

105.  Sulphuret  of  Antimony.  At  Harwinton.*  (Silli- 
man.)    Also  near  South  Hadley.     (Gibbs.) 

106.  Native  Tellurium.  At  Huntington,  associated  with 
tungsten,  bismuth,  silver,  &:c.    (Silliman.) 

107.  Sulphuret  of  Molybdena.  At  Saybrook.  (T.  D. 
Porter.)  Alsoat  East-Haddam  and  Shutesbury.  (Silliman.) 
Also  at  Brimfield.     (Eaton.) 

108.  Yellow  Oxide  of  Tungsten.  A  new  species  discov- 
ered, analyzed  and  described  by  Professor  Silliman.  At 
Huntington  inagangue  of  quartz. 

109.  Calcareous  Oxide  of  Tungsten.  At  Huntington. 
(Silliman.) 

110.  Ferruginous  Oxide  of  Tungsten.  At  Huntington. 
(Silliman.) 

*  104  and  103  need  confirmation. — Editor. 


122  Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut. 

111.  Red  Oxideyof  Titanium.  Near  New-Haven — also  at 
Oxford  in  large  gerficulated  crystals  in  mica  slate — also  at 
Huntington,  at  the  bismuth,  npine ; — crystals  as  large  as 
the  thumb  and  geniculated.  (§i-lliman.)  Also  at  Litchfield, 
sometimes  reticulated  on » mica  slate.  (Brace.)  -^Iso  at 
Worthington,  Massachusetts,  in  quartz.  (Brace.)  -Also 
at  Leyden,  in  four  or  eight  sides,  often- handsomely  genic- 
ulated, generally  striated,  crystals^in  limj)id  quartz,  tremo- 
lite  and  hornblende.  Some  of  the  specirbei^  have  several 
geniculations  and  are  as  large  as  the  thumb.  Hundreds  of 
good  specimens  have  been  collected  at  this  locality.  Also 
at  Brattleborough,  Colrain,  Shelburne,  and  Conway,  in 
quartz,  mica  slate  and  tremolite.  At  Shelburne  I  found  its 
crystals  penetrating  a  vein  of  quartz  in  mica  slate  in  place. 
In  Conway  a  few  small  crystals  have  been  observed  exhib- 
iting the  primitive  form  and  presenting  the  "kind  of  twin 
crystal,"  described  in  Rees  Cyclopedia,  Art.  Rutile.  This 
mineral,  indeed,  may  be  found  in  almost  any  spot  between 
Conway  and  Brattleborough,  on  a  strip  several  miles  wide. 

1 12.  Silico-Calcareous  Oxide  of  Titanium.  At  Brattlebo- 
rough, near  the  north  line  of  the  town  in  a  bowlder  of  gra- 
nite, which  has  flesh  coloured  feldspar — colour  dark  brown, 
or  chesnut.  Some  of  the  crystals  appear  to  be  six  sided 
prisms.  (Dewey.)  These  prisms  are  terminated,  if  I 
mistake  not  by  three  sided  pyramids.  I  also  noticed  a  four 
sided,  flattened  and  striated  prism,  whose  terminations 
could  not  be  determined. 

113.  Ferruginous  Oxide  of  Columhium.  At  Haddam,  in 
granite.     (Berzelius  and  Torrey.) 

Remark. — Since  the  above  list  of  localities  was  comple- 
ted the  following  have  occurred  ;  but  as  they  cannot  be 
conveniently  inserted  in  their  proper  places  they  may  be 
mentioned  here. 

Fibrous  Limestone,  Satin  Spar,  in  bituminous  shale — 
with  Ichthyolites  at  Sunderland.  Andalusite,  at  Litchfield, 
Delafield. 


GEOLOGY,  MINERALOGY,  TOPOGRAPHY,  &c. 


OF  THE  CONNECTICUT, 


PART  III. 


Scenery. 


BETWEEN  the  geology  and  scenery  of  a  country,  there 
is  an  intimate  and  interesting  connection,  l^et  the  ex- 
perienced geologist  be  placed  upon  an  eminence,  and  the 
contour  of  the  surrounding  region  will  enable  liim  to  decide 
with  a  good  degree  of  probability,  concerning  the  nature  of 
its  rocks.  The  phiin  will  at  once  be  pronounced  alluvion. 
The  swelling  hillock  or  ridge  with  mural  faces — if  their 
aspect  be  dark — indicate  some  member  of  the  trap  family; 
if  light  coloured,  they  indicate  granite.  The  conical  eleva- 
tion of  a  reddish  hue  will  be  immediately  referred  to  old  red 
sandstone.  And  those  moderately  steep  hills,  that  stretch 
away  over  many  a  league,  and  form  continuous  and  extensive 

*  For  the  map  and  drawings  see  V©1.  VI.  No.  I. 

18 


124  Geology,  S^c,  of  the  Connecticut 

mountain  ranges,  will  be  known  as  mica  slate,  or  gneiss,  or 
some  other  rock  of  a  schistose  structure. 

Such  is  in  fact  the  aspect  of  the  country  along  the  Con- 
necticut; and  of  course  we  here  find  a  rich  diversity  of 
scenery,  so  that  not  only  the  geologist,  but  the  poet  and  the 
painter,  and  every  man  of  correct  taste,  will  find  an  interest 
in  its  beauties.  My  object  at  this  time  is  to  refer  to  a  few  of 
the  most  interesting  and  romantic  spots  along  this  river, 
annexing  a  short  description  to  each  ;  in  which  I  shall  be 
most  particular  concerning  those  with  which  I  am  most  fa- 
miliar. It  is  not  in  my  power  to  describe  these  scenes  with 
the  skill  of  the  poet  or  the  painter  :  But  if  I  can  succeed  in 
inducing  the  traveller  to  visit  them,  it  will  be  to  him  a  more 
agreeable  disappointment  to  have  the  reality  exceed  the  des- 
cription, than   fall  short  of  it. 

East  and  West  Rock, 

The  eminences  thus  named  have  long  been  celebrated, 
and  attract  the  attention  of  the  visitor  who  first  enters  the 
harbour  or  the  city  of  New-Haven,  as  most  singular  features 
in  the  landscape  ; — the  one  lying  north  west  and  the  other 
north  east,  about  two  miles  distant.  They  present  their  na- 
ked fronts  towards  the  city,  nearly  four  hundred  feet  high, 
of  an  iron  rust  colour  ;  the  original  dark  brown  aspect,  be- 
ing at  East  Rock  principally  destroyed  by  the  stone  quarry- 
men,  who  have,  with  great  boldness,  undermined  nearly  the 
whole  of  the  front  columns  for  the  purposes  of  architecture. 
In  ascending  these  cliffs,  we  find  them  to  be  greenstone  bas- 
ed on  sandstone.*  But  when  the  visitor  reaches  their  top, 
he  will  find  his  attention  diverted  from  the  rock  on  which 
he  stands,  to  the  rich  and  varied  prospect  that  stretches  be- 
neath his  eye.  New-Haven,  with  her  long  Z/ne  of  colleges 
and  elegant  churches  on  the  one  side,  and  her  extensive 
wharf  on  the  other,  is  an  interesting  object  ;  and  suggests 
to  the  mind  a  great  variety  of  agreeable  associations. 
Beyond  the  city  the  spectator  sees  the  harbour,  grad- 
ually widening  outwards,  till  it  is  lost  in  Long  Island 
Sound ;  and  low  in  the  horizon,    he  observes  the    sandy 

*  Cactus  opunlia  L  grows  on  these  rocks  as  a  native. 


Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut.  125 

liills  of  Long  Island.*  On  either  side  of  the  harbour  the 
country  gently  rises  into  hills  of  moderate  elevation,  and 
is  pleasantly  diversified  with  cultivated  and  uncultivated 
patches  ;  and  often  the  neat  mansion  is  seen  half  covered 
by  the  trees. 

East  and  West  Rock  become  interesting  objects  to  the 
students  of  Yale  College,  being  associated  with  a  thousand 
grateful  recollections.  To  these  cliffs  they  often  resort  in 
the  hour  of  relaxation,  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  a  rich  and 
diversified  landscape,  to  study  the  geology  of  the  trap 
rocks  and  to  breathe  the  serener  and  more  bracing  moun- 
tain air.  H  ho  of  them,  while  standing  there,  and  seeing  the 
white  crested  waves  breaking  on  the  rocky  shore,  will  not 
remember  the  ill  omened  cliffs  of  Kinsale. 

Prospect  Hill,  East-Haven. 

Professor  Silliman  led  me  to  the  top  of  this  beautiful 
greenstone  hill,  which  rises  scarcely  an  hundred  feet  above 
the  harbour  ;  but,  from  its  top,  the  prospect  is  extremely 
interesting.  New-Haven  is  presented  to  you  in  a  direction 
nearly  opposite  to  that  in  which  it  is  seen  from  East  or 
West  Rock  ;  and  the  view  is,  in  some  respects,  superior. 
East  and  West  Rock,  seen  from  this  hill,  are  themselves 
striking  objects  in  the  rear  of  the  city  ;  constituting  the  most 
prominent  part  of  that  amphitheatre  of  hills,  which  almost 
encloses  New-Haven.  Still  finther  back,  mount  Carmel 
and  the  Berlin  moimtains  may  be  seen  as  you  look  up  the 
valley  of  Wallingford  River  ;  and  other  mountains  beyond 
these  till  they  insensibly  mingle  with  the  heavens.  Directly 
in  front  of  the  observer,  on  the  west,  is  iVew-Haven  harbour; 
and  a   fine    opportunity  is  afforded  for  witnessing  the   ar- 

*  A  few  years  since,  as  1  was  crossing  the  salt  marsh  at  the  foot  of  East 
Rock,  in  company  with  Doct.  A.  Monson,  I  observed,  on  looking  towards 
Long  Island,  an  ancommon  instance  ol  refraction.  The  shore  of  that  island 
appeared  several  degrees  higher  than  usual  and  uncommonly  distinct.  In- 
deed, its  altitude  seemed  as  great,  as  it  did  a  few  days  previous,  when  I  hap- 
pened to  be  sailing  within  two  or  three  miles  of  it.  It  was  about  noon  when 
this  phenomenon  was  noticed  in  a  clear  very  hot  day  of  July  ;  the  ther- 
mometer standing  but  little  below  90°.  Did  the  rapid  evaporation  produce 
so  great  a  degree  of  cold,  and  consequent  condensation  of  the  air  near  the 
surface  of  the  water,  as  to  cause  this  extraordinary  refraction  .' 


126  Geology  J  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut. 

rival  and  departure  of  vessels.  Indeed,  the  beauty  of  the 
prospect  from  this  spot  is  much  greater  than  one  would 
suppose  possible  from  such  a  mere  hillock.  The  top 
of  the  eminence  has  a  circular  redoubt  upon  it,  which 
was  constructed  by  the  inhabitants  of  New-Haven  during 
the  Revolutionary  war,  and  repaired  during  the  late 
war  with  Great-Britain.  The  ditch  is  dug  in  solid 
greenstone  ;  but  fortunately  not  being  wanted,  it  is  now 
abandoned  and  has  become  the  resort  of  the  flocks  that 
graze  in  the  field  ;  the  magazine  serving  as  a  place  of  shel- 
ter from  the  storm.* 

Eminence  in  West-Haven. — (Now  Orange.) 

Near  the  western  line  of  this  town,  one  or  two  miles  south 
of  the  lurnprke  from  New-Haven  to  Milford,  is  an  elevated 
swell  of  laud,  which  commands  an  extensive  and  delightful 
pis^ipct.  ^Vhen  1  visited  il,  a  thick  fog  was  just  breaking 
a*  ay  troc.  ^developing  one  object  after  another,  till,  at  length, 
the  coast  af  v^'onnecticut  from  East-Haven  to  Stratford,  and 
not  less  than  fifty  or  sixty  miles  of  the  coast  of  Long  Island 
became  visible,  as  well  as  the  villages  of  Milford  andNorth- 
Milford  ;  and  just  rising  over  the  trees,  appeared  the  spires 
of  New-Haven  I  know  not  any  specific  appellation  for 
this  commanding  plateau. 

Prospect  from  Middletown,  Upper  Houses. 

At  the  north  end  of  the  village  thus  denominated,  a  few 
rods  from  the  public  house,  is  a  hill,  from  whose  summit 
is  obtained  a  fine  view  of  the  basin  in  which  Middletown  is 
placed,  with  the  city  and  the  river.  Here  too  I  had  the 
pleasure,  on  one  occasion,  of  seeing  the  various  objects  of 
ibis  landscape,  artificial  and  natural,  partially  covered  by  a 
foa  ;  the  spires  of  Middletown  and  tlie  more  elevated  trees 
and  bills  appearine  above  it,  and  reminding  me  of  the  ante- 
diluvian  world  half  buried  in  the  deluge. 

*  Attached  to  the  red  conglomerate  at  the  foot  of  this  hill,  I  found  the 
beautiful  Borrr.ra  cJirysophllinlma  Ach  :  And  this  is  the  only  place  in  which 
I  have  over  seen  it  in  New-England,  except  upon  the  puddiagstone  of  Rox- 
liuf)',  Mass. 


Geology^  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut,  127 


Monte  Video. 

This  is  a  particular  part  of  Talcot  Mountain,  eight  miles 
northwest  of  Hariford,  at  the  top  of  the  greenstone  ridge  ex- 
tending from  Berlin  to  Amherst.  It  affords  one  of  the  most 
interesting  prospects  (and  with  the  exception,  perhaps  of 
Hoiyoke,  he  most  interesting)  to  be  found  along  the  Con- 
necticut. "  The  diameter  of  this  view,  in  two  directions, 
is  more  than  ninety  miles;''  ad  the  spires  of  more  than 
thirty  churches  are  visible,  scattered  through  the  broad  and 
delightful  vallieson  the  east  and  west  sides  of  the  eminencct 
The  beauties  and  subhmities  with  which  nature  has  invest- 
ed this  sptit,  both  on  a  h'mited  and  an  extensive  scale,  are 
greatly  increased  by  the  displays  of  an  enlightened  and  cor- 
rect taste  in  tile  disposition  and  adaptation  of  the  various  ob- 
jects which  this  singular  country  residence  exhibits  ;  such 
as  the  tenant's  hou.^e  in  Gothic  style  ;  the  summer  house ; 
the  boat  upon  the  mountain  lake,  and  rising  in  Gothic  gran- 
deur above  the  trees,  the  hexagonal  tower,  whose  top  is 
nine  hundred  and  sixty  feet  above  the  Connecticut.  But 
after  the  minute  and  accurate  description  given  by  Professor 
Silliman  of  these  objects  and  this  view,  it  is  altogether  un- 
necessary in  this  place  to  go  into  particulars.  To  the 
"  Tour  between  Hartford  and  Quebec"  the  reader  is  with 
pleasure  referred  for  a  complete  account  of  the  scenery  of 
Monte  Video,  which,  in  some  respects,  is  altogether  u- 
nique  in  this  part  of  the  country. 

Along  the  same  extensive  ridge  of  greenstone,  there  are, 
no  doubt,  many  other  peaks  commanding  views  of  delight- 
ful landscapes  ;  but  not  having  visited  them,  nor  seen  any 
account  of  them,  1  am  of  course  unable  to  describe  them. 

Mount  Hoiyoke. 

This  is  another  of  the  commanding  watch  towers  of  the 
Connecticut.  The  view  from  its  top  is  delightful  ;  and  the 
traveller,  whether  he  be  a  lover  of  natural  scenery,  or  a 
geologist,  will  find  himself  amply  repaid  for  turning  aside 
Haifa  day  to  visit  its  summit. 

Does  he  look  from  tfiis  elevation  with  an  eye  that  is  ac- 
customed to  range   with  pleasure  over  a  variegated  land- 


128  Geology,  ^'C.  of  the  Connecticut. 

scape  ?  Here  then  wiil  he  find  many  forms  of  beauty  and 
grandeur  impressed  upon  the  works  of  God  and  man  around 
him.  Immediately  before  him  on  the  west  and  north,  are 
extensive  meadows,  through  which  the  Connecticut  winds 
in  silence  and  majesty  ;  and  as  if  to  pay  a  tribute  of  respect 
to  this  venerable  mountain,  it  here  forms  a  graceful  curve  of 
three  miles  in  extent,  while  its  actual  advance  towards  the 
ocean,  scarcely  exceeds  fifty  rods.  These  meadows  are  in  a 
high  state  of  cultivation,  and  during  the  summer  months,  the 
parallel  strips,  luxuriant  with  different  vegetables,  present  a 
charming  variety.  Just  beyond  the  Connecticut,  on  the 
western  margin  of  the  meadows,  lies  the  beautiful  village 
of  Northampton,  vieing  for  situation  and  elegance  with  any 
country  town  in  New-England.  So  distinct  is  the  view  of 
this  place  from  Holyoke,  that  with  the  naked  eye  the  in- 
habitants may  be  seen  as  they  walk  the  streets  ;  while  their 
spacious  and  elegant  house  of  worship,  a  fine  Court 
House,*  and  many  seats  of  private  gentlemen  rise  in  a  rich 
and  diversified  relief.  A  little  to  the  right,  in  the  same 
valley,  the  neat  villages  of  Hadley  and  Hatfield,  and  still 
farther  to  the  east,  Amherst,  with  its  meeting  house  and 
collegiate  edifices  on  a  commanding  eminence,  form  resting 
points  in  this  great  basin,  on  which  the  eye  reposes  with 
pleasure.  To  the  north  of  these  villages  the  valley  of  the 
Connecticut  is  gradually  narrowed  by  the  encroachments  of 
the  highlands,  until  at  the  distance  of  about  twenty  miles, 
they  close  in  upon  it,  and  beyond  this  point,  a  sea  of  moun- 
tains displays  ridge  above  ridge  and  peak  above  peak,  even 
to  the  lofty  range  of  the  Hoosack  and  Green  Mountains,  at 
the  distance  of  fifty  or  sixty  miles.  Southwest  appears 
Mount  Tom,  a  few  miles  distant,  separated  from  Holyoke 
by  the  deep  gulf  through  which  the  Connecticut  flows  ;  and 
fifty  miles  distant,  in  the  northeast,  rises  the  "  cloud-capt'' 
Monadnock. 

Turning  southerly,  the  observer  will  have  a  full  view  of 
the  broad  valley  extending  from  Holyoke  to  Middletown  ; 
a  distance  of  more  than  fifty  miles.  He  will  be  able  to 
trace  the  river,  in  all  its  windings,  as  far  as  Long  Meadow, 


Recently  destroyed  by  fire. 


Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut.  129 

which  is  twenty  miles  distant;  and  by  an  optical  deception,* 
it  seems  to  ascend  the  whole  extent,  about  as  much  as  it  in 
reality  descends;  appearing  at  the  farther  extremity,  to 
be  nearly  on  a  level  with  the  eye.  Many  pleasant  villages 
are  visible  along  the  river  ;  among  which,  as  most  striking, 
may  be  named  VVindsor,  East-Windsor,  Springfield,  West- 
Springfield,  and  South-Hadley  and  Granby,  almost  beneath 
the  eye  :  and  these,  with  th;-  many  spires  of  other  villageg 
just  visible  above  the  trees,  and  the  alternate  patches  of  cul- 
tivated and  uncultivated  ground,  checkering  the  plain,  give 
a  liveliness  and  interest  to  the  commanding  landscape. 

I  sat  down  on  this  eminence,  on  a  clear  sumriier  day,  with 
a  telescope  whose  power  was  40  ;  and  after  the  first  thrill 
of  adtniration,  produced  by  the  general  view  of  the  scene 
around  me  had  subsided,  I  began  to  examine,  one  by  one,  the 
objects  before  me  through  the  glass.  The  hour  divisions 
and  indices,  on  the  dial  plate  of  Northampton  meeting 
house,  were  as  distinct  as  those  on  my  watch  in  my  hand  ; — 
and  I  presume  an  acquaintance  might  easi'y  have  been  re- 
cognized in  the  streets  of  that  place.  The  divisions,  he. 
on  the  dial  plate  of  South-Hadley  meeting  house,  five  miles 
distant,  were  also  very  distinct.  By  moving  the  telescope 
slowly  over  the  distant  landscape,  many  spires  of  village 
churches,  that  were  unnoticed  by  the  naked  eye,  passed 
over  its  field  ;  and,  with  little  effort,  I  numbered  twenty- 
four. 

It  is  a  general  opinion  that  East  and  West  Rock  are  visi- 
ble from  Holyoke.  But  I  am  satisfied  that  the  two  perpen- 
dicular bluffs  appearing  in  that  direction,  are  those  between 
Berlin  and  Meriden  ;  and  that  these  conceal  the  New-Ha- 
ven eminences.  On  turning  the  telescope,  however,  so  as 
to  point  between  the  two  precipices  that  are  visible,  I  per- 
ceived, near  the  horizon,  a  low  range  of  hills,  about  as  dis- 
tinct as  the  belts  of  Jupiter;  which,  I  have  liule  doubt, 
were  a  part  of  Long  Island. 

Suppose,  next,  that  the  man,  who  visits  Holyoke,  is  a 
geologist.  He  has  reached  an  interesting  spot,  if  he  look 
no  farther  than  the  naked  trap  on  which  he  stands.  But  he 
will  find  his  attention,  on  first  visiting  this   pinnacle,  irre- 

•  Explained  by  the  rnmmon  principles  of  perspective. 


130  *"     Geology,  f^c.  of  the  Connecticut, 

sistibly  drawn  to  the  striking  and  diversified  geological  fea- 
tures beiore  him.  For  he  lias  a  view  of  nrurly  all  the  sec- 
ondary region,  extending  from  liew-Haven  Hboiit  110  miles 
northerly  j  and  he  sees  a  vast  extent  of  prim.tive  on  its 
borders.  As  he  casts  his  eye  over  this  extensive  tract,  he 
perceives  many  of  those  grand  chnracteristics  ol  the  differ- 
ent rock  formations,  which  are  not  derrved  from  their  com- 
position, but  from  a  contour,  peculiar  to  c;irh,  given  by  the 
Almighty  Hand  that  originally  produced  them  :  So  that  if 
this  geologist  were  unacquainted  with  the  nature  of  the  rocks 
before  him,  he  would  be  able  to  say.  with  a  good  degree 
of  confidence  ; — yonder  hills  to  the  south,  so  precipitous  on 
the  one  side,  and  gradually  sloping  on  the  other,  must  be- 
long to  the  trap  family.  But  these  extensive  unbroken 
mountain  ranges  on  my  right  and  left,  ri>ing  so  gradually, 
must  be  primitive  ;  and  this  intervening  valley  is  doubtless 
alluvion.  And  on  turning  his  eye  northerly,  he  will  pro- 
nounce the  rounded  Sugar  Loaf  and  Toby  to  be  sandstone. 
But  it  would  increase  his  pleasure,  were  he  to  be  informed 
that  the  former  is  the  Wernerian  old  red  sand.stone,  and  the 
latter  a  peculiar  conglomerate  of  the  coal  formation,  sepa- 
rated from  the  red  sandstone  by  a  ridge  of  greenstone  ;  and 
that  its  venerable  head  overshadows  the  coarsest  granite, 
and  that  at  its  base,  pressed  down  by  its  enormous  weight, 
may  be  found  cemeteries  of  fishes  that  swam  in  some  ante- 
diluvian stream.  He  may  be  pointed  also  to  the  South- 
Hampton  vein  of  lead  ore  in  its  whole  extent;  aud  to  the 
localities  of  the  beautiful  beryls,  sappars,  tourmalines,  &c. 
of  Haddam  and  Chesterfield. 

This  geologist  cannot  but  perceive  that  the  extensive  val- 
ley, north  and  west  of  Holyoke,  must,  at  some  remote  pe- 
riod, have  been  covered  by  the  waters  of  the  Connec'icut, 
ere  the  pas -age  beiween  Holyoke  and  Tom  was  worn 
through — And  he  will  also  conclude,  that  another  similar, 
but  much  lar2;er  lake  must  have  existed  in  the  extensive  ba- 
sin south  of  Holyoke,  before  the  waters  of  the  Connec'icut 
had  forced  a  passage  through  the  mountains  below  Middle- 
town.  Hence  he  will  be  led  to  specidate  upon  (be  pe- 
riod when  these  wateis  be^an  to  sub.side  and  upon  the 
time  requisite  to  wear  away  such  immense  masses  of  rock  : 
and  ere  he  is  aware  his  thoughts  will  be  1  d  back  to  the 
period,  when  the  cataract  of  Niagara  began  its  seven   mil« 


Geology,  fyc.  of  the  Cormecticiit.  131 

retreat,  or  when  the  deltas  of  the  Mississippi  and  Ganges, 
began  to  encroach  upon  the  ocean,  or  even  to  that  time 
when  "  all  the  high  hills  that  were  under  the  whole  heaven 
were  covered"  with  a  deluge. 

Last  of  all,  his  attention  will  be  directed  to  the  rock  on 
which  he  stands.  And  he  will  find  near  him  those  regular 
columns  and  those  sloping  debris,  that  evince  it  to  belong 
to  the  trap  family,  so  singular  in  its  structure  and  position, 
and  whose  origin  is  so  hard  to  be  accounted  for.* 

Mount  Tom. 

Mount  Tom  is  higher  than  Holyoke  and  the  prospect 
from  its  top  is  grand  and  extensive,  but  there  is  not  that  in- 
teresting grouping  of  objects  in  its  immediate  vicinity  ;  and 
while  Holyoke  attracts  so  many  visitors,  Tom  is  rarely  as- 
cended. Both  mountains  are  merely  distinct  peaks  of  the 
same  greenstone  range,  separated  by  Connecticut  river. 

Sugar  Loaf. 

It  has  already  been  stated  that  this  is  a  conical  elevation 
of  old  red  sandstone,  rising  five  hundred  feet  above  the  Con- 
necticut, in  Deerfield,  immediately  on  its  banks.  Any 
one  passing  along  the  stage  road  from  Whately  to  Deerfield, 
will  be  struck  with  the  singular  form  and  aspect  of  this 
peak,  and  be  will  not  regret  a  visit  to  its  top.  This  he  will 
find  to  be  an  ellipse,  whose  diameters  are  about  ten  and 
thirty  rods.  On  the  east  and  west  sides  are  perpendicular 
walls  several  hundred  feet  high.  Connecticut  river  is  a 
beautiful  object  on  the  east  and  south,  and  a  bridge  across 
this  river,  and  the  village  of  Sunderland  on  the  opposite 
bank,  appear  to  be  distant  scarcely  a  stone's  throw.  One 
fourth  of  the  horizon  is  hidden  on  the  northeast  by  the 
trees.  On  every  other  side  the  view  is  distinct  and  com- 
manding. 

In  the  meadows  near  the  south  point  of  Sugar  Loaf,  a 
skirmish  took  place  in  August,  1675,  between  the  Indians 
and  the  Massachusetts  forces   under  Captains  Lathrop  and 

It  ought  perhaps  to  be  mentioned  that  recently  two  commodious  build- 
have  been  erected  upon  Holyoke,  where   the  visitor  will   find   ample 


ings 

means  of  refreshment 


19 


132  Geology f  ^e.  of  the  Connecticut. 

Beers  ;  in  which  the  former  were  defeated  with  considera- 
ble loss.  And  in  the  plain  on  the  west  side  of  the  moun- 
tain, at  a  little  distance,  this  same  Capt.  Lathrnj),  in  Sep- 
tember 1675,  was  drawn  into  an  ambuscade  and  cut  off 
with  his  company,  consisting  of  eighty  "  young  men,  the 
very  flower  of  the  Coimty  of  Kssex."  Hence  the  parish  of 
Muddy  Brook,  which  was  originally  called  Bloody  Brook, 
derived  its  ancient  name. 

On  Sugar  Loaf  a  two  story  building  has  recently  been 
erected  for  the  accommodation  of  visitors.* 

Mount   Toby, 

This  eminence  is  two  or  three  miles  northeast  of  Sugar 
Loaf,  on  the  east  side  of  Connecticut  river  in  Sunderland. 
It  is  made  up  of  the  slates  and  pudding-stones  of  the  coal 
formation,  and  is  little  less  than  one  thousand  feet  higher 
than  the  river,  and  twice  as  high  as  Sugar  Loaf.  The  view 
from  its  summit  is,  of  course,  more  extensive  :  but  as  it  em- 
braces for  the  most  part  the  same  regions  that  are  seen  from 
Holyoke  and  Sugar  Loaf,  it  is  unnecessary  to  be  more 
particular. 

Deerjield  Mountain. 

At  the  highest  point  of  that  range  of  old  red  sandstone 
extending  from  Sugar  Loaf  to  Gill,  that  is,  a  little  south  of 
the  village  of  Deerfield,  on  ihe  east,  is  a  prospect,  which, 
in  one  respect,  is  more  perfect  than  any  along  the  Connec- 
ticut. It  is  not  very  extensive  ;  but  the  basin  in  which 
Deerfield  village  stands,  presents  a  picture  of  rural  beauty 
of  singular  delicacy  and  luxuriance.  The  village,  lying  at 
the  foot  of  the  mountain  and  running  parallel  to  it,  appears 
so  much  beneath  the  eye,  that  almost  every  building  in  it  is 
dstinclly  v.sible.  Beyond  this,  lies  one  of  the  richest  inter- 
val tracts  to  be  found  in  New-England,  through  which 
the  Deerfield  river  meanders  most  beautifully  ;  and  be- 
yond these  meadows,  is  an  amphitheatre  of  mountains. 

*  Growing  out  of  the  almost  naked  rock  on  the  top  of  the  Sugar  Loaf,  1 
noticed  the  following:  rather  rare  nud  interesting:  plants  :  Asclepias  verti- 
cillala.  Arttmisia  ciiuadcusi  ,  Arbutus  uva  ursi,  Clinipodium  vulgare,  Poa 
quinqupfida,  Celtis  occidentalis,  kc.  kr. 


if 


Geology,  c^-c-  of  the  Connecticut.  133 


fVest  River  Mountain.* 

'J'his  is  one  of  those  precipitous  and  partially  insulated 
peaks  of  mica  slate  that  occur  along  the  Connecticut,  and 
which  at  a  little  distance,  are  often  mistaken  by  the  geolo- 
gist for  greenstone  hillocks.  It  is  nine  hundred  and  forty 
feet  above  the  Connecticut,  and  stands  on  its  eastern  bank, 
directly  opposite  to  the  east  village  of  Brattleborough.  That 
village  and  the  intervening  river  are  the  most  interesting  ob- 
jects in  the  landscape  that  is  seen  from  this  mountain.  One 
fancies  himself  almost  able,  by  a  single  leap  from  the  sum- 
mit, to  throw  himself  into  the  village.  Almost  every  other 
part  of  the   landscape  exhibits  a  tumultuous  sea  of  moun- 

*  Tradition  has  made  this  mountain  volcanic  in  former  days  :  but  obser- 
vation discovers  no  traces  ol  eruption.  'I'he  experienced  eye  of  Col.  Gibbs 
(a  gentleman  who  will  always  be  reckoned  among  the  fathers  of  American 
mineralogy  and  geology,  first  detected  t'iie  error.  (See  Bruco's  Min. 
Jour.  i\o.  1.  p.  19.)  While  I  agree  wiih  him  that  the  notion  of  flames  said 
to  have  been  sten  issuing  IVom  ihis  mountain  .trose  "  from  a  popular  super- 
stition through  the  country,  that  tlie  presence  of  the  precious  metals  is  fre- 
quently indicated  by  a  flame  which  arises  from  the  ground  at  night,"  I  am 
disposed  to  adopt  the  explanation  of  the  accompanying  "  thunder,"  given  by 
Dr.  Allen  ;  ("Jour.  Sci.  Vol.  3  p.  73)  who  accounts  tor  this  "  by  the  falling 
ol  immense  masses  of  rock."  That  immense  masses  of  rock  have  fallen, 
not  only  from  the  cliff*  to  whi(;h  Ur.  A.  refers,  but  also  from  the  western 
face  of  the  mountain,  no  one  will  deny  who  has  visited  the  spot  :  and  that 
the  falling  of  these  would  produce  a  "noise  like  tliunder,"  which  would  be 
heard  two  or  three  miles,  no  one  will  doubt  who  has  chanced  to  be  in  New- 
ilaven  when  the  quarrymen  had  undermined  one  of  the  huje  columns  of 
Kast  Rock  aiwl  it  was  precipitated  upon  the  base  below.  Although  two 
miles  distant,^he  report  in  the  city  is  oi'ten  as  loud  as  a  six  pounder. 

In  passing  over  West  lliver  Mountain  a  few  years  since,  near  the  top  a 
rattle  snake  was  announced  ;  or  rather  he  announced  himself  by  the  thrill- 
ing shake  of  his  rattles.  Doct. ,  (who  had  been  a  companion  of  Wil- 
son the  ornitliologist  inone  of  his  pedestrian  tonics  through  the  western  wil- 
derness,) immediately  despatched  the  niake  and  found  him  to  measure  a- 
bove  four  feet  in  length.  \  mention  this  fact  because  it  is  uncommon  in 
these  days  in  this  section  of  the  country  to  meet  with  these  reptiles.  Indeed, 
1  have  never  met  with  another  one  alive  along  the  (^nnecticut,  with  per- 
/(Oyw  one  exception.  I  recollect  how  ver,  meeting  some  years  ago  a  man  in 
Leverett,  who  was  barefoot  with  several  rattle  snakes  dangling  over  his 
shoulders,  who  told  me  ho  had  been  hunting  them  at  their  den;+ 

*  On  the  fragments  of  rock  at  the  foot  of  this  cliff,  among  other  interesting 
lichens  grows  the  Slereocaulon  ]iascliale    Ach. 

+  Rattlesnakes  are  occasionally  killed  on  all  the  greenstone  ranges  of  New 
England,  from  which  they  will  probably  never  be  entirely  extirpated  ;  a 
dried  one  is  now  before  me  measuring  three  feet  six  inches  in  length  which 
was  killed  last  summer  on  the  Woodbridge  greenstone  ridge  near  New- 
Haven. — Edilnr,  .Mareh  6,  '[&2.i. 


134  Geology,  dj/c.  oj  the  Lotmecticul.    • 

tains  ;  Black  mountain  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  Monad- 
nock  on  the  other,  beina;  prominent,  and  here  and  there,  a 
spire,  or  a  village,  crowning  a  hill,  or  enlivening  the  val- 
ley. 

Black  Mountain. 

A  general  description  of  this  mountain  has  been  given  in 
the  geological  part  of  this  sketch,  and  I  mention  it  here  as 
presenting  an  interesting  view  from  its  summit. 

Fall  Mountain. 

There  is  a  great  resemblance  between  the  situation  and 
appearance  of  this  and  West  River  Mountain.  Both  are  of 
mica  slate — both  are  nearly  of  the  same  height — both  are 
precipitous  on  the  west  side — both  stand  on  the  east  bank 
of  the  Connecticut — both  have  a  pleasant  village  opposite  to 
them  on  the  west  bank,  and  both  a  bridge  across  the  river 
directly  in  front.  Bellows  Falls  village  is  eearer  the  base  of 
the  mountain  than  Brattleborough,  because  the  river  is  there 
narrower.  The  observer  from  the  top  of  Fall  Mountain 
looks  down  almost  perpendicularly  upon  the  Connecticut, 
here  reduced  to  a  few  rods  in  width,  and  foaming  and  falling 
among  the  jutting  rocks,  presenting  an  image  of  disorder 
and  danger,  while  the  neat  village  on  the  river's  bank  exhib- 
its an  image  of  peace  and  security. 

Nutnerous  other  eminences  in  the  primitive  mountain  ran- 
ges on  either  side  of  the  Connecticut,  commana  extensive 
and  interesting  prospects.  But  the  most  conspicuous  have 
been  described,  it  is  unnecessary  to  go  into  farther  particu- 
lars. 

Bellows  Falls. 

Every  thing  at  this  romantic  spot  conspires  to  impress 
the  beholder  with  the  idea  of  wild  sublimity.  The  perpen- 
dicular fall  ol  the  water  is  of  no  great  height  ;  but  the  whole 
stream  is  here  compressed  into  a  channel  of  a  few  rods  in 
width,  worn  out  of  solid  granite,  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  or 
more,  in  length,  down  which  the  current  dashes,  as  if  impa- 
tient of  its  confinement  in  so  narrow  a  bed  :  and  at  the  foot 


c 


Geology^  ^c  of  the  Connecticut.  135 

of  the  sluice,  it  spreads  out  again  into  its  accustomed  width 
and  soon  resumes  its  wonted  calmness. 

Near  the  middle  of  these  Falls  a  bridge  is  thrown  across 
the  river,  and  from  this,  a  fine  view  is  afforded  of  the  ra- 
pids and  surrounding  scenery.  The  first  time  1  visited  the 
spot,  I  chanced  to  cross  this  bridge  from  the  east,  as  the 
evening  twilight  was  dying  away,  and  there  was  just  indis- 
tinctness enough  upon  objects  to  leave  room  for  the  play  of 
the  imagination.  In  the  middle  of  the  bridge  I  stopped  and 
looked  into  the  foaming  stream  below,  where  the  ragged 
rocks,  half  seen  amid  the  partial  darkness,  jutting  out  from 
the  banks  and  shooting  up  from  the  bottom,  presented  a 
real  Charybdis,  devouring  whatever  entered  its  jaws.  Dan- 
gers enough  were  visible,  in  the  dark  waters  below  ;  and 
while  nothing  but  the  bridge  seemed  to  separate  me  from 
destruction,  on  looking  up,  I  saw  the  venerable  Fall  moun- 
tain, rising  with  its  impending  precipices,  and  threatening 
to  bury  the  whole  in  ruins. 

Nearl)-  a  mile  below  the  falls,  on  the  Vermont  side,  is  a 
favourable  spot  for  viewing  them  and  the  surrounding 
scenery.  From  this  point  you  see  the  cataract  nearly  in 
front,  with  the  bridge  crossing  it  at  right  angles,  with  the 
line  of  vision  ;  while  the  mountain,  here  seen  in  its  whole 
length,  forms  a  lofty  mural  barrier  on  the  eastern  bank.  At 
the  foot  of  this  mountain,  just  beyond  the  bridge  and  al- 
most overshadowed  by  the  shaggy  rocks,  stands  a  large  and 
elegant  mansion  house  ;  and  on  the  opposite  side  appears  a 
neat  compact  village. 

Turner^  Falls. 

These  cross  the  Connecticut,  near  the  point  where  the 
(owns  of  Greenfield,  Gill  and  Montague  meet.  There  is  no 
distinctive  name  by  which  they  are  known  in  the  vicinity  j* 


*  Professor  Silliman  denominates  this  cataract  iMiller's  Falls  (See  Tour. 
to  Quebec,  p.  400.)  But  Millers  Falls  are  three  miles  higher  up  the  riv- 
er, at  the  mouth  of  Miller's  river,  and  not  in  the  Couuecticut. 

A  few  years  since  an  Indian,  who  lived  near  Turner's  falls,  was  precipi- 
tated over  them  :  But  by  his  dexterity  in  swimming;,  and  by  placing  his 
feet  forward  as  he  descended,  he  escaped  alive.  Some  time  afterward, 
however,  as  the  ice  in  the  spring  time  was  breaking  up,  he  was  unfortu- 
nately carried  over  aniong  the  broken  fragments  and  never  appeared  again. 


136  Geology^  fyc.  of  the  Connecticut. 

and  I  have  ventured  to  denominate  them  Turner's  Falls,  for 
a  reason  that  will  appear  in  the  course  of  the  description. 

The  river  at  this  place  runs  in  a  northwest  direction, 
crossing  the  rock  strata  nearly  at  right  angles ;  and  an  arti- 
ficial dam  is  raised  upon  these  rocks  of  the  coal  formation, 
so  that  the  whole  stream,  which  is  here  more  than  one 
thousand  feet  wide,  falls  thirty  feet  perpendicularly.  This 
sheet  of  water,  however,  is  divided  near  the  middle  by  a 
small  island  on  which  the  dam  reposes.  For  three  miles 
below  the  principal  descent,  the  water  continues  to  descend 
so  as  to  render  a  canal  necessary. 

The  proper  and  almost  the  only  spot  for  viewing  this 
cataract  to  advantage  is  on  the  elevated  ground  forty  or  fifty 
rods  below  the  falls  on  the  northeast  shore.*  Standing  on 
this  spot,  you  have  the  principal  fall  of  water  nearly  in 
front,  or  at  right  angles  with  the  line  of  sight ;  and  you  can 
see  the  river  above  and  below  the  dam  one  or  two  miles. 
The  contrast,  is,  however,  very  great.  Above  the  cataract  the 
water  is  unruffled  to  the  very  verge  of  the  precipice,  down 
which  it  rolls  in  graceful  majesty.  Below,  it  tumbles  and  foams 
among  the  rocks  as  far  as  the  eye  can  trace  it.  A  little  far- 
ther down  the  stream  than  the  station  of  the  observer,  the 
river  strikes  directly  against  a  greenstone  ridge,f  two  hun- 
dred feet  high,  by  which  it  is  forced  to  curve  to  the  left, 
more  than  a  quadrant,  and  afterwards  runs  nearly  south. 
The  rocky  island  that  divides  the  cataract,  with  the  white 
foam  dashing  against  the  base  of  its  cliffs  and  its  top  crown- 
ed with  a  few  pines  and  other  shrubbery,  is  a  picturesque 
addition  to  ihe  scenery.  Several  rods  below  this  island  a- 
nother  is  planted  of  similar  aspect,  but  smaller,  and  at  a 
much  lower  level,  and  apparently  inaccessible.  The  upper 
island  may  be  reached  by  a  canoe  in  safety  ;  and  then  we 
can  descend  to  the  very  foot  of  the  falls  and  find  the  voice 
drowned  by  their  roar;  and  in  favourable  circumstances, 
see  the  rainbow  arching  over  the  falling  sheet. 

*  From  this  spot  a  view  of  these  falls  was  taken,  in  1818,  by  a  friend,  and 
inserted  in  the  Port  Folio  for  December  of  that  year,  with  a  short  descrip- 
tion. The  dam  has  recently  been  removed  several  rods  down  the  stream  ; 
so  that  the  present,  view  differs  a  little  from  the  drawing  which  was  theu 
executed  ;  and  the  removal  of  the  dam,  I  think,  has  ra'.her  injured  the  view. 

+  At  the  foot  of  this  ridge,  in  the  bottom  ol^  the  stream,  and  adhering  to 
the  rocks,  grows  in  abundance  the  singular  Lemaniajluviatilis  of  Agardh. 


Geology,  ^'C>  of  the  Connecticut.  137 

The  country  around  these  falls  is  little  cultivated  and  there 
are  but  few  settlements  on  either  side  of  the  river.  In  al- 
most every  direction  you  see  gently  rising  hills,  covered 
with  trees;  of  which  the  pine  forms  a  large  proportion.  For 
three  miles  above  the  falls  is  a  fine  spot  for  a  sailing  excur- 
sion. You  immediately  enter  between  wooded,  and  mode- 
rately elevated  hills,  exhibiting  all  their  original  wildness  ; 
and  so  placid  is  the  stream,  gently  curving  among  these  hills, 
now  and  then  spreading  out  so  as  to  form  coves  along  the 
shore,  and  here  and  there  chequered  by  small  islands,  that 
you  fancy  yourself  to  be  in  the  midst  of  a  romantic  moun- 
tain lake.  To  the  coves  along  the  shore,  parties  frequent- 
ly resort  for  taking  fish. 

These  and  other  circumstances  render  Turner's  falls  and 
the  vicinity  an  attractive  spot  to  any  one  who  takes  an  in- 
terest in  the  wild  and  sublime  scenes  of  nature.  By  a  refe- 
rence to  the  preceding  part  of  this  sketch,  it  will  be  seen 
that  the  geologist  and  mineralogist  will  find  here  much  to 
awaken  and  gratify  curiosity.* 

Bellows  and  Turner's  falls  are  in  many  respects  very  dis- 
similar. At  the  former,  the  river  is  narrow  and  the  fall, 
viewed  by  itself,  is  not  the  principal  object  of  interest ;  but 
at  the  latter,  the  Connecticut  pours  a  broad  and  unbroken 
sheet  of  water  over  a  precipice  comparatively  lofty,  produ- 
cing a  roar  that  is  frequently  heard  at  the  distance  of  twelve 
miles. 

One  hundred  and  fifty  six  years  ago,  a  party  of  Philip's 
Indians,  having  joined  those  residing  in  Platfield,  Deerfield, 
&tc.  all  being  at  war  with  the  white  inhabitants,  resorted  to 
Turner's  falls  to  take  fish,  and  encamped  on  the  north  east 
shore.  On  the  1 7th  of  May,  Capt.  Turner  from  Boston, 
marched  from  Hatfield  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  men, 
consisting  of  the  garrison  and  militia  from  Springfield, 
Northampton  and  Hatfield,  and  came  by  surprize  upon  the 
Indian  camp  the  next  morning  at  day  light.  The  Indians 
were  totally  unprepared  for  the  attack,  and  fled  in  every  di- 
rection. Some  sprang  into  their  canoes,  and  pushing  from 
the  shore  without  paddles,  were  hurried  over  the  cataract 

*  I  am  at  a  loss  to  account  for  it,  that  t'lese  falls  have  exciteJ  so  little  at- 
tention and  drawn  so  few  visitor?.  They  are  but  three  miles  from  the  vil- 
lage of  Greenfield,  the  road  is  gf»d,  and  the  accommodations  decent,  at  a 
public  house  on  the  bank. 


133  Geology,  ^-c.  of  the  Connecticut. 

and  dashed  in  pieces — while  some  reached  the  opposite 
bank.  Three  hundred  lodians  are  said  to  have  been  killed 
and  only  one  Englisliman.  Yet  the  Indians  who  survived, 
being  joined  by  another  party,  fell  upon  the  English  troops 
as  they  were  returning  and  made  dreadful  slaughter  among 
them.  So  that  before  they  reached  Hatfield,  Capt.  Turner 
was  killed,  and  thirty  seven  of  his  men. 

After  reading  this  piece  of  history,  no  one  will  doubt  the 
propriety  of  denominating  this  cataract  Turner's  Falls. 

Shelburne  Falls. 

These  are  in  Deerfield  River  in  the  west  part  of  Shel- 
burne :  and  a  partial  description  has  already  been  given  of 
them  in  this  sketch.  I  know  of  nothing  concerning  these 
rapids  that  requires  particular  description.  Visiting  them  at 
low  water,  however,  I  was  much  struck  with  the  number 
and  magnitude  of  those  spheroidal  excavations  in  the  rock 
called  pot  holes.  They  are  often  seen  several  feet  in  di- 
ameter and  depth,  and  the  stones,  <Sz;c.  by  which  the  water 
wears  them  out,  are  still  found  at  their  bottom. 


PART  IV. 

Miscellanies. 

The  greater  part  of  the  subjects  to  be  jjresented  under 
this  division  might,  without  impropriety,  have  been  connect- 
ed with  the  first,  or  geological  part.  But  as  that  division 
had  swelled  more  than  was  expected,  it  was  though!  best 
to  throw  them  together  at  the  close  of  the  Sketch.  Some 
of  the  following  articles  however  have  suggested  themselves 
since  the  geological  part  was  written. 

Ancient  Lakes. 

Any  one  who  examines  the  passage  of  the  Connecticut 
and  many  of  its  tributaries,  through  several  mountains  em- 
braced by  the  Map  accompanying  this  Sketch,  will  be  led, 
I  think,  to  the  conclusion  that  the  waters  of  this  river  once 
flowed  over  the  great  valley  along  its  banks,  forming  an  ex- 


Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Conneclicut.  139 

tensive  lake  :  and  also,  that  when  this  began  to  subside,  by 
the  wearing  away  of  the  outer  barriers,  other  barriers  would 
appear  and  produce  other  lakes  of  inferior  extent. 

It  is  no  argument,  as  some  have  thought,  in  favour  of 
such  a  supposition,  that  so  much  rock  occurs  in  this  basin 
which  is  evidently  a  recomposition  of  the  detritus  of 
older  formations  ;  and  that  organic  remains  are  found 
in  these  rocks.  For  every  geologist  knows  that  all  this 
must  be  referred  to  a  period  anterior  to  that,  in  which 
the  last  grand  diluvian  catastrophe  happened  to  the 
globe  and  left  our  continents  in  their  present  form.*  Nor 
is  the  mere  occurrence  of  masses  of  stone,  evidently  round- 
ed by  the  attrition  of  running  water,  any  evidence  in  favour 
of  this  hypothesis  ;  for  we  must  look  for  the  cause  of  this 
also,  as  far  back  at  least  as  the  Noachic  deluge. — No  cur- 
rent of  water  with  which  we  are  acquainted  is  sufficient  to 
transport  such  masses  of  rock  into  the  situations  in  which 
we  find  them  :  "  for  though  we  can  readily  conceive  how  the 
agency  of  violent  currents  may  have  driven  these  blocks 
down  an  inclined  plane,  or,  if  ihevis  a  lergo  were  sufficient, 
along  a  level  surface,  or  even  up  a  very  slight  and  gradual 
acclivity,  it  is  impossible  to  ascribe  to  them  the  Sisyphean 
labour  of  rolling  rocky  masses,  sometimes  of  many  tons  in 
weight,  up  the  face  of  abrupt  and  high  escarpments."f 
Rounded  masses  of  rock  may  however  occur  under  such 
circumstances  as  to  show  them  to  have  been  removed  by 
currents  posterior  to  the  deluge. 

The  principal  evidence  in  favour  of  the  supposition  that 
the  waters  of  the  Connecticut  once  flowed  over  the  broad 
valley  on  its  banks,  consists  in  the  appearance  of  the  chan- 
nel of  the  river  where  it  passes  through  certain  mountains. 
Thus,  every  one  perceives  that  this  river  must  have  cut  its 
deep  passage  through  the  mountains  below  IVliddletown  : 
in  other  words,  this  supposition  will  account  for  that  gulf 
several  hundred  feet  deep  in  which  this  river  now  flows,  and 
we  are  not  acquainted  with  any  other  agency  that  will  ac- 
count for  it.     And  if  it  be  admitted  that  this  passage  was 

*  See  some  excellent  remarks  on  this  subject  in  the  recent  work  of  Cony- 
t>eare  and  Philips,  entitled  "  Outlines  of  the  Geology  of  England  a£d 
Wales"— page  57  Introduction. 

t  Vid.  same  work  page  29,  Introduction. 

20 


140  Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut. 

once  closed  up  nearly  to  the  general  level  of  the  neighbour- 
ing mountains,  it  must  have  thrown  back  the  waters  of  the 
Connecticut  over  the  whole  of  the  secondary  tract  marked 
on  the  map,  with  the  exception  of  some  of  the  highest 
ridges  and  peaks  of  greenstone  and  sandstone,  which  then 
probably  formed  islands  in  this  extensive  expanse  of  wa- 
ters. 

At  the  outlet  of  the  Connecticut  through  the  mountains 
below  Middletown,  a  little  south  of  the  Chatham  cobalt 
mine,  and  six  or  seven  hundred  feet  above  the  present  bed 
of  the  river,  I  saw  rounded  masses  of  old  red  sandstone, 
several  inches  in  diameter,  mixed  with  the  fragments  of  the 
rocks  in  place.  Such  a  fact  I  never  noticed  at  any  other 
place  in  the  primitive  region  along  the  river  :  certainly  not 
on  the  east  side  of  it.  And  I  was  led  irresistibly  to  the  con- 
clusion, that  they  were  conveyed  thither  by  the  ice  of  the 
ancient  lake,  which  would  be  floated  to  the  ocean  through 
this  outlet. 

In  the  northern  part  of  the  tract  supposed  to  have  beeo 
covered  by  this  lake,  other  evidences  of  its  existence  pre- 
sent themselves.  In  the  southern  part  of  Deerfield,  the 
sandstone  cliffs  of  Sugar  Loaf,  four  hundred  feet  above 
the  present  level  of  the  Connecticut,  bear  evident  marks  of 
having  been  worn  and  undermined  by  water : — that  is,  they 
appear  very  much  like  similar  rocks  which  now  form  the 
beds  and  banks  of  the  Deerfield  and  Connecticut  rivers.  In 
the  north  part  of  Deerfii^ld,  at  the  west  foot  of  the  green- 
stone ridge,  and  two  hundred  feet  at  least  above  the  Con- 
necticut, is  the  channel  of  a  stream  ten  or  twelve  rods  wide, 
that  once  ran  southerly,  as  appears  from  the  little  eminences 
of  greenstone  that  were  exposed  to  its  action,  which  pre- 
sent a  perpendicular  front  on  the  north  side,  while  the  south 
side  is  sloping  and  pres^ents  an  accumulation  of  brokea 
pieces  of  the  rock.  One  mile  west  from  this  spot,  and  a 
few  rods  south  of  the  village  of  Greenfield,  appears  the 
bed  of  a  smaller  stream  which  there  formed  a  cataract,*  of  a 
few  feet  over  a  ledge  of  red  sandstone  rocks.  In  this  rock 
are  numerous  spheroidal  excavations  of  two  or  three  feet  in 
depth,  leaving  no  doubt  that  a  current  of  water  once  flow- 
ed there.     This  channel  is  less  than  one  hundred  feet  above 

*  See  Dickinson's  View  of  Massachusetts,  p.  33. 


Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut.  141 

the  Counecticut.  A  little  to  the  northeast  and  especially 
one  or  two  miles  northwest  of  the  village  of  Greenfield,  the 
old  red  sandstone  rocks  are  smoothed  and  fluted  in  a  great 
many  instances;  indicating  a  former  exposure  to  currents 
of  water.  These  various  circumstances  render  it  very 
probable  that  the  country  was  once  covered  by  a  lake. 

As  the  passage  of  the  Connecticut  through  the  moun- 
tains below  Middletown  was  gradually  worn  deeper  and 
deeper,  this  lake  would  be  lowered  also — and  in  process  of 
time,  the  lofty  greenstone  ridge,  extending  from  near  New- 
Haven  to  Amherst,  would  present  another  barrier,  and  at 
length  the  original  lake  would  be  divided  into  two  ;  the  one 
extending  from  Northfield,  on  the  west  side  of  this  ridge, 
nearly  to  New-Haven,  and  the  other,  on  the  east  side,  from 
South-Hadley  to  Middletown.  There  is  every  appearance 
that  the  Connecticut  has  worn  down  a  passage  through  this 
ridge  between  Holyoke  and  Tom. 

As  this  process  of  draining  continued  from  century  to  cen- 
tury, these  lakes  constantly  contracted  their  limits,  until  at 
length  the  greater  part  of  the  extensive  vallies  they  occu- 
pied were  laid  bare.  In  the  western  lake  however,  were 
three  basins,  at  Farmington,  Westfield  and  Deerfield,  a  few 
miles  in  extent,  which  would  remain  filled  with  water  until 
the  three  rivers  of  the  same  name,  which  supplied  them, 
had  worn  away  passages  through  the  greenstone  ridge  above 
mentioned.  That  they  have  done  this,  will  be  doubted  by 
no  one  who  will  examine  their  course  through  this  mountain. 

Thus  after  the  lapse  of  years  would  these  lakes  all  be 
drained,  leaving  a  rich  valley  for  cultivation.  And  whoev- 
er will  examine  the  alluvium  of  Farmington,  Westfield  and 
Deerfield,  will  be  led  to  suppose  that  the  period  when  the 
work  was  finished  could  not  have  been  many  centuries  ber 
fore  the  settlement  of  this  country. 

Sunderland  Cave. 

This  is  about  three  miles  northeast  of  the  village  in  the 
rocks  of  the  coal  formation.  It  forms  nearly  a  quarter  of  a 
circle,  is  about  ten  rods  through,  opens  on  the  north  and 
west,  is  from  two  to  twenty  feet  wide,  and  from  ten  to  sixty 
or  seventy  deep.  A  few  rods  to  the  south  is  a  fissure  ten 
feet  wide,  nearly  parallel  to  the  cave,  and  sixty  or  seventy 


14:2  Geology,  i^'c.  of  the  Conncclicut. 

feet  deep.  Both  the  cave  and  tb.e  fissure  are  in  an  immense 
mass  of  pudding  stone  with  scarcely  any  thing  hke  stratifica- 
tion ihroughoui  ;  and  this  is  incumbent  upon  a  soft,  decom- 
posable, argillaceous  sandstone  slate.  The  disintegration 
of  this  slate,  either  by  the  waters  of  the  lake  above  des- 
cribed, or  by  simple  exposure  to  the  vicissitudes  of  the  cli- 
mate, has  probably  caused  tliis  enormous  stratum  of  con- 
glomerate to  fall  partially  down  and  thus  to  form  the  cave 
and  the  fissure. 

favourable  situation  of  Yale  College  as  a  School  of  Aline' 
ralogy  and  Geology. 

It  is  a  curious  circumstance,  that  this  Institution  should 
have  been  fixed  by  its  founders,  who  must  have  been  alto- 
gether unacquainted  with  geology,  at  the  very  focus  of 
most  of  the  Wernerian  rock  formations.  It  stands  at  the 
southern  extremity  of  the  secondary  region  of  the  Connec- 
ticut; and  had  experienced  geologists  searched  the  whole 
of  New-England,  they  could  not  have  found  a  more  eligible 
situation  for  a  geological  and  mineralogical  school.  It  is 
also  a  fortunate  coincidence  of  favourable  accidents,  that 
the  first  mineral  cabinet  in  the  United  States  should  have 
been  deposited  in  Yale  College,  before  there  was  much 
known  concerning  the  interesting  nature  of  the  surrounding 
country. 

The  geological  professor  at  Yale  could,  even  from  his 
lecture  room,*  point  out  most  of  ihe  rock  formations  of  the 
globe.  He  could  direct  the  attention  of  his  pupils  to  the 
plain  around  them,  as  alluvium  ;  and  to  the  hills  of  Wood- 
bridge  and  Milford,  as  exhibiting  interesting  deposites  of 
diluvium.  On  the  north  they  would  see  the  striking  sec- 
ondary greenstone  eminences  of  East  and  West  Rock  ;  and 
on  the  west,  hills  of  primitive  greenstone.  In  this  same  di- 
rection, only  four  or  five  miles  distant,  he  might  point  them 
to  the  West-H:iven  chlorite  slate,  to  the  Woodbridge  argil- 
lite,  to  the  iMilford  verd  antique  and  serpentine,  and  a  little 
beyond,  to  the  mica  slate.  A  few  rods  to  the  north,  or 
east,  they  might   see   the  old  red  sandstone  and  the  green- 

,  •'  The  cabinet  which  is  in  the  third  story  of  ;\  his^h  building  and  in  which 
the  lectures  are  given  commands  a  view  ol'the  noi^hl-ourii'ig  hills. 


Geology,  fyc.  of  the  Connecticul.  143 

blone  dikes  they  contain.  In  East-Haven,  also,  six  miles 
distant,  occur  the  red  and  grey  slates  of  the  Coal  Forma- 
tion ;  in  Northford,  the  fetid  carbonate  of  lime  ;  at  South- 
ington  the  bituminous  limestone  ;  at  VVestfield  the  bitumin- 
ous shale  with  ichthyolites  ;  at  Durham  the  coarse  con- 
glomerate of  the  coal  formation,  and  at  Berlin  the  green- 
stone and  slates  of  the  coal  formation  with  interesting  locali- 
ties of  coal,  galena,  blende,  barytes,  agates  and  zeolites  in 
the  greenstone — all  within  lialf  a  day's  ride.  In  East-Haven 
appears  the  sea  beaten  granite  ;  and,  a  little  farther  to  the 
north  and  east,  the  gneiss,  hornblende  slate  and  mica  slate 
formations. 

The  mineralogy  of  the  vicinity  of  Yale,  is  also  rich  and 
diversified.  Suffice  it  just  to  mention  the  chalcedony,  car- 
nelian,  amethyst,  agates,  stilbite,  zeolite,  laumonite,  preh- 
nile,  analcime,  &ic.  of  the  neighbouring  greenstone  :  the  na- 
tive copper,  copper  and  lead  ores,  so  abundant  in  the  same 
formation  : — the  native  silver,  bismuth,  magnetical  and  com- 
mon pyrites,  galena,  blende,  the  three  ores  of  tungsten,  the 
tellurium,  fluor  spar,  epidote.  titanium,  he.  of  Huntington  : 
the  asbestus,  bitter  spar,  sahlite.  serpentine,  &;c.  ofMilford  : 
the  cobalt  ores  at  Chatham  ;  the  corundum,  andalusite,* 
&ic.  of  Litchfield  ;  and  the  chrysoberyl,  beryl,  tourmalines, 
garnets,  magnetic  iron,  columbium,  he.  of  Haddam. 

Geological  Position  of  Amherst  Collegiate  Institution. 

This  is  situated  on  elevated  ground,  and  commands  an 
extensive  and  delightful  view  af  the  surrounding  country. 
It  stands  on  granite,  here  covered  by  diluvium  ;  but  the 
granite  appears  a  short  distance  both  north  and  south.  On 
the  west,  stretches  out  an  alluvial  plain  ;  on  the  south,  rises 
the  lofty  Holyoke  of  greenstone  ;  on  the  east,  of  gradual  as- 
cent, a  mUl^foif  of  gneiss  ;  on  the  north,  appears,  a  few 
miles  distant,  mount  Toby,  composed  of  rocks  of  the  coal 
formation  ;  and  also  the  rounded  Sugar  Loaf  of  old  red 
sandstone  : — while  beyond  the  alluvial  tract,  on  the  west, 
rises  a  high  range  of  mountains  made  up  of  granite  and  sie- 
nitic  granite,  (containing  the  interesting  lead  mine  of  South- 

'''■  RecenUv  announced  by  Maior  Delafipld.  Vide  Anaer.  Journ.  Sci.  Vol. 
6.  p.  176. 


144  Geolvgi/,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut' 

Hampton,)  primitive  greenstone,  greenstone  slate,  mica 
slate  and  gneiss,  so  that  without  mentioning  the  rare  mine- 
rals found  in  the  vicinity,  it  is  evident  that  an  interesting 
assemblage  of  rocks  is  presented  in  the  neighbourhood  fof 
the  instruction  of  the  geological  student. 

Fac  Simile  of  Goshen  Graphic  Granite.  [See  Plate  I,  Fig.  1.] 

A  description  of  this  granite  has  been  already  given  in  the 
First  Part  of  this  Sketch.  But  having  since  discovered 
some  more  perfect  specimens,  I  thought  it  might  not  be  un- 
acceptable to  have  one  of  them  copied.  It  is  not  common 
to  find  specimens  so  well  marked  as  the  one  from  which  the 
plate  was  taken  ;  yet,  in  general,  they  are  quite  handsome. 
The  points,  triangles,  &;c.  of  quartz,  usually  enlarge,  or  di- 
minish, as  they  traverse  the  feldspar.  Thus,  the  specimen, 
of  which  the  plate  is  a  copy,  exhibited  on  its  opposite  side 
(about  four  inches  distant  from  the  surface  that  was  copied,) 
the  same  characters  but  four  times  as  large. 

Pseudomorphous  Granite.     [See  Plate  1,  Fig.  2.] 

It  is  not  an  easy  matter  to  give  a  good  graphic  represen- 
tation of  this  rock.  Perhaps  however,  the  one  annexed  may 
assist  in  understanding  the  description  given  on  p.  17,  ^riSp** 
The  dark  part  represents  the  plates  of  mica  ; — the  red  part 
the  quartz,  and  the  uncoloured  portion,  the  feld'^par.  This 
rock  occurs  abundantly  in  Goshen,  connected  with  the 
graphic  granite  above  described  ;  and  the  transition  of  the 
one  into  the  other  is  usually  very  sudden. 

Lusiis  Naturae.     [See  Plate  I,  Fig.  3.] 

For  a  description  of  this,  see  page  15, 


Desiderata  in  the  Geology  and  Mineralogy  of  the  Connec- 
ticut. 

It  may  be  remarked  in  general,  that  but  a  small  part  of 
the  geolog}  and  mineralogy  of  this  region  has  been  brought 
to  that  degree  of  perfection  to  which  these  sciences  have 
been  carried  in  some  countries   in  Europe  ;  and,  therefore, 


Geology,  ^c.  of  the  Connecticut.  145 

there  are  desiderata  in  the  whole.  But  some  parts  are  more 
deficient  than  others  ;  and  I  shall  take  the  liberty  of  noting 
some  of  those  points  which  seem  more  particularly  to  de- 
mand the  further  attention  of  the  geologist.  Among  these 
the  following  may  be  named. 

1.  A  more  exact  determination,  in  many  instances,  of 
the  boundaries  of  the  several  formations. 

2.  Further  examination  of  the  exact  relative  position  of 
the  old  red  sandstone  and  the  coal  formation. 

3.  Further  search  for  greenstone  dikes,  not  only  in  the 
old  red  sandstone,  but  also  in  the  coal  formation,  and  even 
in  primitive  rocks. 

4.  Whether  the  beds  of  secondary  greenstone  detach 
veins  from  one  to  the  other,  as  in  the  isle  of  Sky. 

5.  A  further  examination  of  the  granitic  beds,  to  deter- 
mine whether  like  connecting  dikes  or  veins  may  not  be 
found  uniting  them  also. 

G.  A  more  thorough  search  to  ascertain  whether  all  our 
granite  does  not  exist  in  the  form  of  beds  and  veins. 

7.  To  find  more  instances  in  which  the  coal  formation  and 
greenstone  form  alternating  beds. 

8.  An  examination  of  the  beds  of  clay  and  gravel,  found 
along  the  Connecticut,  for  shells  and  other  organic  remains. 

9.  Further  search  in  the  coal  formation  for  organic  re- 
mains.* 

10.  Examination  of  the  bituminous  limestone  of  South- 
ington,  especially  with  the  query  of  Prof.  Silliman  in  mind, 
(Journal  p.  63,  vol.  6.)  whether  this  rock  may  not  itself  be, 
or  be  connected  with,  bituminous  marl  slate  .'' 

11.  The  extensive  range  of  greenstone,  running  from  Ber- 
lin to  Amherst  has  as  yet  been  but  little  examined  for  mine- 
rals, as  well  as  many  other  greenstone  ridges.  Indeed,  the 
mineralogy  of  this  whole  region  requires  farther  explora- 
tion, and  promises  the  diligent  student  much  fruit. 

Meteorological  Fact. 

The  following  circumstance,  although  connected  with 
geology,    does   not   strictly   come  within   the  limits  of  this 

*  Dr.  Cooley  informs  me  that  he  has  recently  discovered  another  locali- 
ty of  ichthyolites  in  Deerfield,  about  three  milts  from  the  locality  in  Snn 
cterland. 


146  Geology y  ifc.  of  the  Connecticut 

Sketch  :  Yet  it  seems    worth  noticing,  but  hardly  of  suffi- 
cient importance  to  form  a  separate  paper. 

In  goinii  westward  from  Connecticut  river,  we  first  pass 
over  an  alluvial  tract  and  then  continue  gradually  to  ascend, 
for  twenty  miles,  to  the  top  of  Green  and  Hoosak  moun- 
tains. As  might  be  expected,  the  winters  on  this  elevated 
land  continue  two  or  three  weeks  later  than  in  the  valley  ; 
that  is,  the  farmer  can  sow  his  seeds  two  or  three  weeks 
earlier  in  the  valley  than  on  the  hills.  But  in  autumn, 
the  destructive  frosts  are  usually  as  much  later  on  the  hills 
than  along  the  river : — so  that  one  frequently  passes  from 
the  river  in  October,  where  almost  every  vegetable  is  des- 
troyed, and  finds  the  crops  uninjured  on  these  bills  ;  and 
the  crops  there  are  about  a  fortnight  later  than  those  in  the 
vallies,  so  as  to  require  this  lengthening  out  of  their  time  of 
ripening.  I  have  been  disposed  to  attribute  this  fact  to  the 
greater  moisture  of  the  atmosphere  of  the  vallies,  arising 
from  the  more  copious  exhalations  from  the  river,  whereby 
the  efFec<s  of  frost  are  greatly  increased,  even  at  the  same 
temperature. 


Tabular  Arrangement  of  the  Rock  Formations  alonz,   the 
Connecticut* 

*  I  here  follow  with  pleasure  the  very  simple  yet  ingenious  arrange- 
ment of  rocks,  which  is  adopted  by  Conybeare  and  I'hillips,  as  the  basis 
of  their  recent  work  on  the  Geology  of  England  and  Wales.  It  has  the 
rare  merit  of  being  entirely  free  from  hypothesis.  It  would  be  well  if  a 
similar  purification  from  the  alloy  of  uncertain  systems,  could  be  extended 
through  every  part  of  geology.  The  work,  however,  is  rapidly  advancing 
and  in  the  hands  of  such  men  as  the  authors  of  this  work,  and  of  McCul- 
loch,  Greenough,  Buckland,  Webster,  Borre,  Cuvier,  Brongniart,  Uc.  we 
confidently  expect  that  it  will  be  speedily  accomplished. 

In  the  above  tabic,  I  may  have  put  down  some  rocks  in  the  Inferior  Or- 
der, which  the  authors  of  this  arrangement  will  place  in  the  Submedial  Or- 
der. For  tlieir  acooimt  of  these  orders  is  not  yet  published  ;  and  in  the 
general  sketch,  they  have  given,  only  a  part  of  the  rocks  belonging  to  each 
. inter  are  enumerated. 


Geology,  fyc.  of  the  Connecikvt.  I4T 

I.  Inferior  Order. 


^Common 
Gra-     Porphyritic 
Dite.<  Graphic 
Pseudo- 
morphous 


(No. 


2.  Sienite,   or  Sien- 
itic  Granite' 


3.  Gneiss. 


Com- 

mou       i 
Glandii- I 
[_  Iqus 


Rocks  observed  in  contact  icith 
thoie  in  lite  leading  column. 
^Sienitic  Granite  ^  N.  Hampton, Belchert'u,ic, 
"  I  Leveretl  granitic  range, 

I     Do.  Gr^.riville,  (fee. 
I  Conway, VVilliamsburgh,^C; 
j-  V\  estfield,  Mass. 

Conway 

Passim 
Northampton 

1  Northampton,  &C; 
Chatham. 
VWhately. 
I      Do. 

J  Northampton. 
^  Leverett,  ice. 
I  Passim. 


4.  Hornblende 

Slate 


5.  Mica  Slate 


L 

6.  Talcous  Slate 
7. 


Gneiss 

Hornblende  Slate 
Mica  Slate 
Serpentine 
Limestone, 

7.) 
Diluvium 
Alluvium 
Granite 

Hornblende  Slate 
Primitive  Greenstone 
Diluvium 
Alluvium 
'Granite 

Hornblende  Slate 

White  (iran.  Limestone  !  Litchfield  County. 
Mica  Slate  [Leveiett,     Granville, 

Steatite  |  New-Salem.  [S;c. 

Diluvium  J  Passim. 

^Granite  "^  Granville,  k.a. 

Sienitic  Granite  |  Ch.aham. 
Gneiss  }•  Passim 

I  Mica  Slate  I  Shelburne,  Colerain,  &c. 

I  Diluvium  J  Passim. 

^'Granite  "1  Conway,  &c. 

Gneiss  I  Monson,  Wilbraham,  v<:c 

Hornblende  Slate      |  Shelburne,  Heath,  kc. 
Limestone,  (No.  7)  |  IJeerfiekl,  Conway,  &c. 
Argillile  I  Leyden,  VVoodbridge,  &c. 

Chlorite  Slate  |  VVhitingham,  Milford 

Greenstone  Slate     ^VVhately,  Do. 

Serpentine  .Middlelield. 

Steatite  New-Fane,  &c. 

Old  Red  Sandstone     Passim. 
Coal  Formation  S.  Hampton  Lead  Mine. 

Diluviuai  Passim 


vuini 


l^Alhi 

^  Mica  Slate 

I  Chlorite  Slate 


J  Wilbraham. 

Plaiufield,  Hawley,  &c, 
Whitinsham. 


Limestone,    or   a  Granitic  i  Granite  (in  veins)  1  Conway. 
A;;gregateof  Silex,    Carb.  ?  Mica  Slate  >  Deerfield, 

'  "  (  .Argillite  )  Putney. 


&c. 


Lime  and  Mica 


■^  This  is  undoubtedly  (he  rock  denominated  sienitic  granite,  by  Dr.  Mc 
Culloch,  in  his  Geology  of  Glen  Tilt.  (Geo!.  Trans.  Vol  3.  p.  299  and  300.) 
That  is,  he  regards  it  as  a  mere  variety  of  granite,  distinguished  from  other 
varieties  by  the  presence  of  hornblende  in  any  proportion.  Had  I  read  his 
memoir  on  the  Tilt  belbre  the  geological  part  of  this  sketch  was  written,  I 
should  not  have  separated  sienite  from  granite,  but  have  treated  the  two 
rocks  as  mere  varieties. 

21 


148 


Geology,  ifc.  of  the  Connecticut. 


8.  Chlorite  Slate 


9.  Steatite 


10.  Serpentine 


Rocks  observed  in  contact  with  those  in  the.  leading  column. 

Talcous  Slate         ^  Whiting  ham. 
Mica  Slate  I  Do. 

Argillite  |  Guilford,  Vt.  and  Woodbridge. 

Verd  Antique  J-Milford. 

Prini.  Gre«ustone       Do. 
Diluvium  Do. 

Alluvium  j  Orange,  (Ct.) 

Gneiss  )  New-Salem. 

Mica  Slate  \  Middlefield. 
Serpentine  )       Do. 

Granite  "j  Westfield,  Mass.  (Eaton.) 

Mica  Slate  [Middlefield,  (Dewey.) 

Granular  Limestone  f  Milford. 
(_ Steatite  J  Middlefield, 

n    ir  -^  A    1-         ^  Primitive  Greenstone  ?  Milford. 

11.  Verd  Antique  J  C^j^^j^^gl^^^  1      Do. 

f  Mica  Slate 
I  Chlorite  Slate 

12.  Primitive      ( Unstratified  j  Sienite 

Greenstone  I  Greenstone  Slate  ]  Verd  Antique 

I  Old  Red  Sandstone  j  Whately,  Gill. 
LCoal  Formation      J  Gill,Northfield. 

The  order  of  succession  of  the  seven  preceding  rocks  is  very  variable  and 
uncertain. 


(Do.) 


^  Wolcott  ? 
I  Milford. 
[Whately. 
f  Milford. 


II.  SuBMEDiAL  Order. 


13.  Argillite 


rMica  Slate 
Limestone,  (No.  7.) 
Prim.  Greenstone 
Chlorite  Slate 
Old  Red  Sandstone 
Diluvium 
Alluvium 


Putney,  Woodbridge. 

Do. 

Woodbridge. 

Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

J  Brattleborough. 


III.  Medial  Order. 


14.  Old  Red     )  Common  > 

Sandstone  ^  Conglomerated  ^ 


fGranite 

Mica  Slate 
I  Argillite 

J  Prim.  Greenstone 
j  Second.  Greenstone 
I  Coal  Formation 
I  Diluvium 
[^Alluvium 


Northampton. 
Deerfield. 


Geology,  <^*c.  of  the  Connecticut. 


149 


2-  ^ 

u 

to  ;3 


Very  Micaceous 
Black  tortuous 
Bituminous  Shale 
Finer  Puddingstone 
Coarse  Do. 

r 

I  Compact 
J  Columnar 
I  AmygJaloidal 
I  Porphyritic 

L 


Rocks  observed  in  contact  ivilh 
those  ill  the  leading  column. 


Wacke* 

Trap  Tuff 

Dark  bastard  Limestone 

Bituminous  Do. 

Fetid  Do. 

Seams  of  Coal 

Fine  red  arg;.  Sandstone 

Coarse  gray  Siliceous  Do. 


Do. 
Do. 


J 


fGranite 

I  Gneiss 
Mica  Slate 
(Old  RedSandstone 
Prim.  Greenstone 
Sec.  Greenstone 
Diluvium 
|_Alluvium 


Southampton  f 

Montague. 

S.  H.leadm. 
.Passim. 
''Gill. 

Passim. 
Do. 

Enfield,  (Ct.) 


Granite  ")  East-Haven  i* 

Old  Red  Sandstone  I  East   and    West 

^     Rock. 
Coal  Formation       !  Gill,  Berlin,  Sic. 

J 


IV.  Superior  Order. 


17.  Diluvium 


18.   Alluvium, 


Above  most  or  all  of  the  preceding  ibrmations. 
Oceanic  deposites  "] 

Beds  of  Gravel  j 

Do.      Clay  \  Above  most    of   the 


Clay 
Sand 


Do. 
\  Loam 
[_Decom posed  Rocks  and  Vegetables_ 


(preceding  formations. 


*  Prof.  Silliman  has  decided,  in  the  affirmative,  the  question  wheth- 
er this  rock  exists  along  the  Connecticut.  Vide  Journal  of  Science,  Vol. 
6.  p.  51  note. 

t  In  Conybeare  and  Phillips'  late  interesting  work  on  the  Geology  of 
England  and  Wales,  (p.  311,)  the  Bituminous  Marie  Slate,  with  the  ac- 
companying limestones,  sandstones  and  conglomerates,  is  placed  in  the  su- 
permedial  order  ;  that  is,  immediately  above  the  rocks  of  the  coal  Forma- 
tion ;  and  if  the  Rocks  above  denominated  the  Coal  yormatiou  should 
prove  to  belong  to  the  Bituminous  Marlite  Formation,  according  to  Mr. 
Brongniart's  opinions,  they  must  be  placed  in  the  ?upermedial  order  also. 
But  what  becomes  of  the  old  red  sandstone  (rothe  todte  liegende)  which  lies 
immediately  below  the  Bituminous  Marl  Formation  in  Germany,  and  be- 
low the  coal  formation  in  England.'  These  writers  (or  rather  Rev.  W.  D. 
Conybeare,  who  wrote  the  article  here  referred  to)  regard  the  rothe  todte 
liegende  of  the  Germans,  as  distinct  from  the  old  red  sandstone  of  England. 
^uery — if  the  rocks  along  the  Connecticut  are  really  the  coal  formation  of 
Europe,  may  not  the  red  sandstone  east  of  the  river  in  Chatham,  East-Uart- 
ford,  Windsor,  &:c.  be  the  rothe  todte  leigende  ;  and  that  west  of  the  river 
the  old  red  sandstone  of  England? 

This  same  writer,  speaking  of  the  real  coal  formation,  says  that  "  at 
least  ten  characters  will  be  found  in  common  between  the   carboniferous 


150  Geology,  &/-c.  of  the  Connecticut. 


^     P.  S.  Coal  Formation. 

Since  the  publication  of  the  descripiion  of  this  series  of 
rocks  along  the  Connecticut,  I  liave  had  an  opportunity  to 
examine  more  extensively  than  1  had  done  before,  the  coal 
foraiation  of  Rhode-Island  ;  and  thus  to  institute  a  com- 
parison between  the  two.  And  I  feel  satisfied  that  they  are 
very  distinct  from  each  other  ;  and  that  the  Rhode-Island 
formaiion  is  the  oldest.  There  is  a  sort  of  general  differ- 
ence beiwet  n  them,  which  is  readily  recognized  by  the  eye, 
but  which  it  is  not  easy  to  describe.  In  the  Rhode-Island 
rocks,  however,  there  is  a  greater  resemblance,  in  the  gene- 
ral aspect  and  in  the  fracture,  to  primitive  rocks  than  in 
those  of  the  Comiecticui  ;  and  the  former  are,  in  general, 
harder  and  more  compact  than  the  latter;  and  their  cement 
is  more  argiliaceons.  The  coarse  puddingstone,  so  abun- 
dant inRoxbury,  Dorchester,  Sic.  and  which  is  seen  at  in- 
tervals most  of  the  distance  to  the  anthracite  beds  in  Ports- 
mouth, approaches,  in  certain  varieties,  very  near  a  similar 
rock  in  ]\Iontague,  Sunderland.  Dui-Jiam,  4'C--  In  the  first 
named  rock,  however,  the  cement  is  rather  more  abundant, 
and  the  rock,  as  Maclure  very  happily  expresses  it,  "  l)as 
the  appearance  as  if  the  cement  at  the  time  of  formation 
Iiad  a  consistence  sufScient  to  prevent  the  particles  i'rom 
touching  each  other."  Certain  fine  red  and  coarse  gray 
slates  occur  in  the  two  formations  which  can  hardly  be  dis- 
tinguished, except  that  those  in  Rhode  Island  (as  well  as 
most  of  the  other  transition  rocks  there,)  are  traversed  by 
veins  of  quartz,  but  those  on  the  Connecticut  never  are. 

I  would  not  be  understood  as  endeavouring  to  prove  that 
the  Rhode-Island  formation  belongs  to  the  Wernerian  trans- 
tion  class  and  that  of  the  Conupcticut  to  the  secondary. 
Both  probably  are  transition  ;  yet  the  one  may  lay  claim  to 
a  greater  age  than  the  other. 


and  traBsitJon  class  (of  Werner)  for  ono  ^'Inch  could  lead  to  an  opposite 
arraojjemeat" — that  is  wiUi  the  flcetz  class,  and  also  "  that  the  sandstones 
ol  the  lower  part  of  this  series  approach  closely  m  iharaclerto  the  more  ob- 
viously mechanifal  varieties  of  2;rey\vacke,  and  indeed  so  completely  pass 
into  Ihut  rock,  that  in  many  instances  tiie  limts  between  this  ieries  and 
that  of  transition  rocks,  can  onlv  br  arbitrarily  assigned." — (pp.  323  and 
324.) 


Geology,  >^-c.  of  the  Connecticut^  151 

Gneiss. 

The  more  I  examine  the  rocks  in  New-England,  the  bet- 
ter convinced  1  am  that  the  extent  of  this  rock  in  this  re- 
gion, has  been  overrated  by  geologists.  The  truth  is,  that 
almost  in  every  place  which  I  have  examined,  mica  slate  al- 
ternates with  gneiss,  or  overlies  it.  so  as  to  occupy  nearly, 
sometimes  more  than  half  the  surface.  Hornblende  slate 
and  granite,  also  occur  in  the  same  series.  In  passing  from 
Northampton  to  Boston,  I  have  never  found  any  gneiss  east 
of  Worcester  ;  althouglvin  going  from  Providence  to  Hart- 
ford, this  stratum  occur^nly  twelve  miles  from  the  former 
place  and  continues  with  alternations  of  mica  slate,  inc. 
to  within  a  kw  miles  of  the  latter  place. 

I  cannot  avoid  remarking  here,  that  wherever  I  have 
seen  beds  and  veins  of  granite  in  gneiss  and  mica  slate,  I 
have  usually  found  the  strata  much  distorted  and  deranged 
in  the  vicinity  ;  and  r?'ce  versa,  where  derangement  of  the 
slate  appeared,  I  have  generally  been  able  to  discover  veins 
or  beds  of  granite.  And  wherever  granite  veins  exist,  gra- 
nite beds  are  not  usually  far  off.  1  might  say  more  on  this 
subject :  But  it  ha?»rjTyJPlc*ently  attracted  my  particular 
attention,  therefore  I  desist.  I  am  satisfied,  however,  that 
many  of  the  phenomena  of  Glen  Tih  are  repeated  in  New- 
England. 

Greenstone — primitive — transition  and  secondary. 

The  second  supposed  distinction  between  the  primitive  and 
secondary  greenstone  of  the  Connecticut  is  very  imper- 
fectly stated  page  32  ^Hjgf^  The  mere  fact  that  the  primi- 
tive greenstone  forms  beds  in  other  rocks  does  not  distin- 
guish it  from  secondary  greenstone  ;  since  this  occurs  in  the 
same  situation.  But  the  former,  at  the  sides  of  the  bed, 
passes  by  imperceptible  gradations  into  other  rocks,  such 
as  greenstone  slate,  chlorite  slate,  &ic.  thus  excluding  the 
idea  that  it  could  have  been  forced  in  between  the  strata  of 
other  rocks  after  their  consolidation  :  whereas  the  latter 
rock  is  distinctly  characterized  to  the  very  line  of  junction 
with  the  sandstones  and  puddingstones,  unless  there  be  a 
slight  chemical  changeo  few  inches  on  either  side  of  this  line^ 
as  if  bv  heat. 


152  Geology f  ^t,  of  the  Conntcticut. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  to  state  here  that  the  greenstone  of 
the  Connecticut  has  a  very  different  aspect  internally  and 
externally  from  the  epidotic  and  sienitic  greenstones  in  the 
vicinity  of  Boston.  The  latter  are  evidently  transition,  be- 
ing associated  with  the  sienite.  porphyry,  gray  wacke,  argil- 
lite,  &ic.  But  I  am  not  prepared  to  state  precisely  in  what 
respects  they  differ  from  the  greenstone  of  the  Connecticut. 

And  although  it  does  not  strictly  belong  to  this  place,  it 
may  not  be  amiss  to  refer  to  the  intrresting  dykes  of  basal- 
tiform  greenstone  occurring  in  sienitic  granite  in  the  vicini- 
ty of  Boston,  of  which  I  do  not  recollect  to  have  seen  an 
account.  1  have  noticed  them  in  Midbury  and  Weymouth 
in  real  granite — that  is,  the  rock  was  destitute,  at  the  place 
of  hornblende.  One  in  Weymouth,  or  perhaps  in  Brain- 
tree,  I  traced  several  rods,  and  it  retained  its  width  with 
mathematical  exactness,  and  the  sides  were  perfectly 
smooth.  These  dykes  deserve  more  examination  and  bet- 
ter description.     Perhaps  some  of  them  contain  real  basalt. 

White  Augite. 
Since  writing  the  account  of  this  mineral  found  in  Go- 
j,.  shen,  which  occurs  on  page^lft  03l^.     1  have  visited  the 

^^^  locality  again,  and    find  it  in  imiTiense  abundance.     About 

two  miles  north  of  Goshen  meeting  house,  a  {e\v  rods  be- 
yond a  tavern  on  the  west  side  of  the  road,  is  a  pasture  al- 
most covered  by  bowlders  of  granite.  These  bowlders  are 
full  of  augite,  some  of  the  crystals  of  which  are  from  twelve 
to  eighteen  inches  long  and  three  or  four  wide,  although 
they  are  very  imperfect.  Every  cabinet  in  the  world  might 
be  supplied  from  them.  I  noticed  also  in  the  same  rock 
some  crystals  of  beryl  more  than^^|(jjfch  in  diameter. 

Precious  Gernet. 
This  occurs  abundantly  in  gneiss  in  west  and  south 
Brookfield.  Some  are  an  inch  diameter  ;  their  colour  is 
}ight  poppy  red,  and  it  is  rare  to  find  any  exhibiting  the 
form  of  the  crystal  distinctly,  so  that  perhaps  they  ought 
to  be  referred  to  pyrope. 

Prismatic  Mica 
Found  in  the  northern  part   of  Williamsburg  in   granite. 
Good  specimens  may  thence  be  obtained. 


Muf  Species  of  Botrychimu  1 53 

The  annexed  drawings  are  from  the  same  plates,  as  those  in- 
serted in  Vols.  6  and  7  of  the  American  Journd  of  Science. 
And  it  so  happens,  th't  a  few  figures,  not  belonging  to  this 
Sketch,  could  not  be  omitted.  Among  these,  is  a  new  species 
of  Botrychium,  found  in  Conway,  and  fully  described  in  Vol.  b, 
p  103  of  Journ.  Science.  It  was  thought,  that  it  miglit  not  be 
vnacceptable,  to  insert  the  following  short  description  ot  this 
plant,  in  this  place. 

Specific  Character. 

Botrychium  Simplex  :  ^nd  simple,  5  lobed,  or  3  cleft ; 
segments  unequal  ;  spike  subi-compound,  interrupted,  unilate- 
ral, be-^ring  sessile  capsules,  in  the  last  part  of  June,  of  the  size 
of  a  mustard  seed.  Nearly  allied  to  JS.  ZuHaria  of  Europe  : 
but  itdiifers,  in  having  a  simple  leaf,  a  spike  hardly  compound, 
and  much  larger  capsules.  In  a  dry,  hilly  pasture,  a  few  rods 
south  of  the  residence  of  Col.  Charles  E.  i3illings,  in  Conway. 

Corrigenda. 

The  author  of  the  preceding  Sketch  had  not  an  opportunity 
to  examine  the  proof  sheets,  and  a  considerable  number  of  er- 
rors have  been  found,  particularly  in  the  first  Part.  Those, 
however,  affecting  the  sense,  have  been  corrected  by  the  pen,  in 
the  few  copies,  that  have  been  printed  in  this  form 

It  is  but  justice  to  himself,  also,  for  the  writer  to  remark,  that 
a  pressure  of  more  important  duties  has  prevented  him  from 
giving  that  attention,  in  the  preceding  Sketch,  to  the  graces  of 
composition,  which  would  have  been  desirable.  He  had  been 
for  several  years  collecting  fa^ts,  relating  to  the  Geology,  &:c. 
of  the  Connecticut;  and  the  alternative  seemed  to  be  before 
him,  either  to  abandon  them  to  oblivion,  or  to  publish  them  in 
the  rather  imperfect  form  in  which  they  are  presented  in  the 
preceding  pages.  He  has  chosen  the  latter  course ;  whether 
wisely,  or  not,  it  is  not  for  him  to  decide.  He  will  be  satisfied, 
if  the  facts  exhibited  should  render  any  service  to  a  science, 
which  has  recently  assumed  so  interesting  a  relation  to  revealed 
religion. 

The  term  stratification  has  been  used  in  the  geological  part  of 
the  preceding  Sketch,  in  a  (ew  instances  where  most  geologists 
would  probably  have  employed  schistose  or  slaty.  Some  re- 
laarks  of  Greenough,  in  his  work  on  the  First  Principles  of  Ge- 
ology, led  to  this  blending  of  the  terms. 

The  term  alluvial,  in  the  preceding  Sketch,  is  employed  in 
the  same  sense,  in  which  it  is  used  bj  all  American  writers. 


154  New  Species  of  Botrychiutn. 

But,  in  Europe,  it  has  recently  been  very  much  restricted  in 
its  signification.  According  to  this  limited  view,  but  very  little, 
that  is  marked  on  the  Bccompanying  map  as  alluvion,  is  really 
such ;  only  a  few  small  basins,  as  that  of  Farmington,  West- 
field,  Deerfield  and  Northampton,  which  are  annually  overflow- 
ed by  rivers.  The  remainder  corresponds,  probably,  to  some 
one  of  the  older  European  formations :  perhaps  to  the  London 
clay. 


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